The CropCam is a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) which carries a high resolution digital camera. It contains an advanced GPS guided autopilot that makes it fully autonomous. To use it, you simply program in the locations where you want to acquire images, throw the CropCam into the air, and watch it as it flies to the programmed locations, acquires the images, and lands itself. The series of images are then downloaded out of the camera and stitched together into a large seamless mosaic image of the entire field. Because the CropCam is GPS guided, it can fly the same precision pattern at any time in order to provide images from the same point of reference. CropCam also flies on demand, allowing for timely pictures without having to wait for a pilot or satellite imagery to become available. It provides an inexpensive and timely alternative to full-scale, piloted airplanes, and provides much higher resolution than satellite imagery.
The combination CropCam's capabilities allow you to make better decisions about your crops. The high resolution digital images of crops gives you immediate feedback on problems such as weeds and diseases, allowing you to treat the initial areas cheaply before the entire crop is affected.
The aerial photos have applications in:
Agriculture: Monitoring crops and plant growth, identifying weeds and diseases, calculating acres, etc.
Ranching: Monitoring rangeland quality, record keeping, finding and counting animals.
Forestry: Timber cruising/surveying, disease and pest monitoring, environmental monitoring and compliance, nursery and tree planting growth development.
Appraising and Real Estate: Determining acres and structures, detailed photos showing boundaries of properties for sale.
Insurance: Calculating areas, visualizing and recording losses.
Emergency Services: Unmanned reconnaissance of dangerous situations such as chemical spills, forest fires, search and rescue operations for lost persons in dangerous terrain, accident investigation, etc.
Fish and Game: Finding and counting animals.
More applications are coming to us from our users frequently.
FAQs
Q: What are the flight capabilities CropCam?
A: CropCam has an eight foot wingspan and is four feet long, weighing approximately six pounds depending on the choice of camera and mount. Cruising speed is around 35 mph, with a 60 mph maximum, thus allowing it to fly in winds up to 20 mph. Typical flight time is 60 minutes on a full battery charge, which gives about 50 minutes of usable flight time. Typical operating altitude is 400-2000 feet, with overview quality images at 2000 feet and incredibly detailed images at 400. Maximum flight range is one mile in line of sight, but it is recommended that the CropCam be programmed to stay as close to the area being imaged as possible. It can fly over 640 acres in approximately 25 minutes to provide a general overview image.
Q: What kind of resolution do the pictures have?
A: The maximum calculated spatial resolution achievable is approximately 0.5 inches per pixel, however the area covered at this resolution is generally unpractical and limited by the number and size of the images and camera capabilities. A spatial resolution of 3-4 inches per pixel is easily achieved for standard images, with 6 inches per pixel for general overview images.
Q: How tough is it?
A: Under normal use, it is quite tough - many CropCams have flown over 150 flights and are still going. Others have encountered utility poles and lines, trees, buildings, and all kinds of other obstacles with the expected result: broken parts. CropCam is designed to handle the normal rigors of rough field landing - it is not designed to withstand midair collisions with rigid objects. The airframe is a ruggedized version of a commonly available hobby radio controlled aircraft; if necessary, the entire airframe can be replaced for approximately $350. Many parts can be easily repaired and individual replacement parts are also available. Common sense is the best way to avoid accidents.
Q: How can I prevent the CropCam from hitting objects in flight?
A: The CropCam comes with a regular "hobby" radio control system installed for manual control. You can take over control of the CropCam at any time in flight to manually steer it away from an obstacle, then return control to the autopilot when the CropCam is clear of the obstacle.
Q: What if something happens to the plane as it is flying?
A: The control computer tracks the aircraft's GPS position and flight information through the data link. The location where CropCam lands is recorded, allowing the plane to be retrieved in emergency situation.
Q: I want to take pictures of my orchard/forest/whatever and there are lots of trees and other obstacles. How much room does it need to land?
A: You should have an open and level area of about 500 feet square in order to safely land the plane in auto pilot mode. Landing in smaller areas requires manual control and thus depends on the operator's skill. Remember, though, that the locations for takeoff and landing can each be up to a mile from the area being imaged, as long as each is within line of sight of that area.
Q: Can I fly the CropCam anywhere I want?
A: No. CropCam should only be operated over fields, forest, and rural areas. You should not operate CropCam within two miles of commercial airports, over any populated areas, in FAA restricted airspace, or near military bases, without getting the specific authorization to do so.
Q: What about other aircraft?
A: You should never operate CropCam in the same airspace as full-size aircraft - aircraft carrying humans always have airspace priority over UAVs and model airplanes, for the obvious reasons.
CONTACT US TODAY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU!
PineCreek Precision LLC
15401 Blair Hollow Road
Kendrick, ID 83537
(208) 289-4997