The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2018 - Issue 54 | Page 73

TECHNOLOGY 73
• DEC/JAN 2018
New safety laws to help put the UK at
the forefront of drone technology
The government will publish
the draft Drone Bill for consul-
tation and introduce secondary
legislation amendments in spring
2018. Changes to the Air Naviga-
tion Order will mean that that
mean:
• drone users will have to sit
safety awareness tests
• users of drones weighing 250
grams and over will in future
have to be registered
POLICE are set to be given
powers to prevent the unsafe or
criminal use of drones as part of a
new package of legislation.
The measures are intended to
allow drone users to continue
flying safely and legally, helping
to place the UK at the forefront of
the fast-growing drone industry.
This will also pave the way for
the devices to be harnessed for a
range of uses by businesses and
public services.
The draft Drone Bill, which will
be published next spring, will give
officers the right to order oper-
ators to ground drones where
necessary. Officers will also be
able to seize drone parts to prove
it has been used to commit an
offence.
New measures will also make it
mandatory for drone owners to
register to improve accountability.
‘ we want to
And drone operators will be re-
quired to use apps – so they can
access the information needed to
make sure any planned flight can
be made safely and legally.
Banning drones from flying near
airports or above 400 feet could
also form part of the new regula-
tions.
The news comes as funding for
a pioneering new drones pro-
gramme is announced to help
cities shape the way this new
technology operates and the
benefits it brings.
Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg
said: “Drones have great potential
and we want to do everything
possible to harness the benefits
of this technology as it develops”
These new laws strike a balance,
to allow the clear majority of
drone users to continue flying
safely and responsibly, while also
paving the way for drone technol-
ogy to revolutionise businesses
and public services.”
do everything
possible to harness
the benefits
’
The government is also working
closely with drone manufactur-
ers to use geo-fencing to prevent
drones from entering restricted
zones.
Data from new smart sensors can help
growers drive yields and cut costs
CUTTING-EDGE wireless sensor tech-
nology now available to UK growers that
measures precise humidity, moisture and
temperature points, is set to equip farmers
with the data they need to help drive im-
provements throughout their businesses.
‘ crucial for food
producers ’
Agriculture is becoming increasingly
data-driven, and sensing technology is
becoming instrumental to the way farmers
grow crops. Access to precise, detailed
data is helping farmers to make better,
more informed decisions: tailoring cultiva-
tion, avoiding produce and crop damage,
and reducing costs.
Dutch-founded smart sensing technology
company, 30MHz, is making precision farm-
ing more accessible for UK farmers of all
sizes with sensing technology that’s quick
to deploy, affordable and user-friendly.
Designed with farmers
to meet their needs
Developed in partnership with Dutch
farmers, the 30MHz Smart Sensing Toolkit
is built to prioritise farmers’ needs allowing
them to choose a combination of sensors
that suits their business. Sensors are rugged
to withstand agricultural conditions, and
can be set up out of the box in moments,
so farmers can start tracking their environ-
ment straight away.
Metrics that make a difference
Sensors are designed to capture the most
relevant metrics for growers including tem-
perature, humidity, object counting, object
temperature of leaves/fruit/vegetables,
air speed, light intensity, soil moisture in
various substrates as well as crop-level dew
point. Continuous monitoring and alerts
on changing environmental conditions can
save energy, prevent crop loss and improve
yield quality.
More precise measurement of surface
temperature prevents burn, and informs
farmers on when to irrigate and when to
provide nutrients. Temperature and humidi-
ty measurement are also crucial to optimise
the cold storage and drying processes in
order to prevent moisture-borne disease
and rot.
“We’ve seen from our customers that the
ability to monitor and optimise environ-
mental factors is crucial for food produc-
ers,” explains Cor-Jan Holwerda, 30MHz
director of customer affairs. “Capturing
this data doesn’t need to be complex or
difficult. We’ve seen agribusinesses across
agriculture and horticulture save time and
resources while improving productivity and
quality by measuring a few key metrics and
expanding their sensor networks at their
own pace.”