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”

THANK YOU

PLEASE VISIT US AT STAND # 18 FOR MORE INFO