RPAS CROP SPRAYING: THE BENEFITS & THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

RPAS CROP SPRAYING: THE BENEFITS & THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY: TIM WISE MANAGING DIRECTOR

PART 1 DISADVANTAGES OF MANNED AERIAL APPLICATION

1. TOO BIG / TOO FAST / TOO HIGH = POOR COVERAGE

2. SUSCEPTIBLE TO HUMAN ERROR

3. INCONSISTENT COVERAGE = REDUCED PEST CONTROL = REDUCED FOOD PRODUCTION / FARMER REVENUES

4. ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY

5. HIGH PILOT / PROPERTY RISK

PART 2 ADVANTAGES OF RPAS APPLICATION (DJI AGRAS MG-1S)

1. CAPABLE OF 100% COVERAGE

2. FULL AUTONOMY ELIMINATES HUMAN ERROR = CONSISTENT QUALITY APPLICATION / CROP PROTECTION

3. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

4. SAFE • 10kph – 15kph OPERATING SPEED • 1.5m – 3.5m OPERATING HEIGHT (ABOVE CROP CANOPY) • MAX 1km RANGE • LIMITED TO LINE OF SIGHT OPERATIONS • INCLUDES ALL TYPICAL DJI FAILSAFE FEATURES • APPROX 7,500 UNITS CURRENTLY IN OPERATION WORLD- WIDE – NO MAJOR INJURIES REPORTED

5. JOB CREATION • 3 x RPAS PERSONNEL REQUIRED vs MANNED AERIAL APPLICATION • LOWER BARRIERS TO ENTRY • MASSIVE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT POTENTIAL

PART 3 CHALLENGES FACING COMMERCIAL ROLLOUT IN SOUTH AFRICA

1. REGULATORY • CURRENTLY APPROX 24 MONTH FULL R.O.C. PROCESS • CURRENTLY APPROX 9-12 MONTH ON-BOARDING / R.L.A. PROCESS (PER MODEL PER RPAS) • NEW MODELS WITH MUCH IMPROVED FEATURES RELEASED BY MANUFACTURERS EVERY 12-18 MONTHS • EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT THUS DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY INVESTMENT IN CURRENT ENVIRONMENT • ASSET FINANCIERS UNSURE HOW TO ASSESS RISK IN THE ABSENCE OF HISTORIC APPROVALS BENCHMARKS OR RIGID REGULATORY SLA’s

2. HUMAN RESOURCING • RPAS CROP SPRAYING PILOTS REQUIRE VARIETY OF QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE (AS PRESCRIBED BY SACAA & DAFF) • CURRENTLY VERY FEW INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH AFRICA MEET THE CRITERIA • DIFFICULT TO TIME INVESTMENT IN FULL PILOT TRAINING / EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERING REGULATORY “UNKNOWNS”

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