PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University hopes federal authorities will allow researchers to explore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for agricultural purposes.
The Federal Aviation Administration controls the air space, said Ralph Cavalieri, associate vice president for alternative energy for WSU. Above 18,000 feet, movement of aircraft is tightly controlled. Below 18,000 feet, the rules are visual, “see and be seen,” Cavalieri said.
“Herein is the problem—we now have vehicles without a pilot,” he said.
For the moment, the only legal use of UAVs is as a hobby, Cavalieri said. No one can fly them for employment except under very special circumstances approved by the FAA.
“The problem is people will buy one of these things, and as hobbyists you can go and use it, but if you’re using it for commercial purposes, technically, it’s illegal,” Cavalieri said. “We want to do the research because we know that agriculture is likely to be a huge user of this technology, but right now we can’t do the research.”
WSU applied to be a test site for UAV systems, but was not selected.
The university is working with a consultant to get faculty members FAA certificates of authorization, but the FAA in May issued a ruling that the certificates would only apply to aeronautical research, not allowing use in agriculture.
Work is ongoing at various levels to gain approval for agriculture, Cavalieri said. WSU intends to be a leader in UAV research.
Jacob Leachman, WSU assistant professor in mechanical and material engineering, worked with a club of aeronautics students to design a liquid hydrogen-fueled UAV using a fuel cell. The student club flew the vehicle on batteries as a hobby, Cavalieri said, as flying it on the hydrogen fuel cell would be research and against the law.
Most UAVs would have a maximum flight time of 45 minutes using an electric battery, but up to 10 hours using a hydrogen fuel cell, depending on the vehicle, Leachman said.
UAVs have potential to help farmers menace pest birds, which in 2013 caused $80 million in damage in the state’s apples, cherry, grape and blueberry production, Leachman said.
UAVs could also be used in crop stress management and to detect diseases, said Lav Khot, assistant research professor in agricultural automation engineering at WSU.
Leachman is completing the paperwork to apply to fly the UAV at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California to test the hydrogen cell. It would be the first flight in the nation of a university-built liquid hydrogen-fueled aircraft, Leachman said.
The WSU researchers presented an update to members of Greater Spokane Incorporated during a tour of Washington State University facilities.
Source: www.capitalpress.com