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Why do you use drones? And what about satellite images?Drones are able to get close to your crop, creating unique close-up images. With millimeter level details, this means that we can give a good picture of the health of the plant. This is not possible with satellite data: the resolution is often at the meter level, which means that we cannot separate individual plants from each other. This means that we cannot intervene at plant level. Satellite image is often a good start - and we are happy to help you with that!
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What happens to the data you collect? What about privacy, and who owns it?All data that we collect on your field is and remains your own. We only shoot above the field, not outside it. All data is only forwarded via encrypted connections and is stored on a cloud server within the EU. We do require your permission to process the data and use it to improve our detection algorithms. If applicable, we also ask for your permission to share the data with a 3rd party, for example if this provides access to special expertise (such as detecting a specific disease).
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Retrieving data sounds nice, but data alone won't help me, will it?It depends on the application. You can do a lot with the data itself. For example, we can count plants or detect diseases and dehydration. These insights enable you to use your crop protection or watering in a more targeted way and at the right time. Some use cases require special equipment - think of a precision sprayer and a tractor with an RTK GPS system.
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Automatic flying: that sounds dangerous?We fly remotely, if the regulations allow it. This means that a pilot is always watching from a distance and can intervene. The drone always has a backup communication link and follows pre-planned routes. These procedures are tested, validated and kept up to date in consultation with the aviation authority. If the regulations do not allow this, there is a pilot on site who controls the drone.
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What happens during periods of bad weather?We cannot fly during rainy or stormy periods. Not only because the drone cannot withstand this, but also because the sensor data is often not usable during these types of periods. We see that a frequency of 1 flight per 10 days during the important periods in the growing season is enough - and then it turns out that in practice such long periods without a suitable day occur almost never.
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What does the application of your data mean to me?It is generally known that applying precision techniques to the entire cycle - from soil preparation to harvesting and processing - can lead to a 30% increase in yield and a 30% cost reduction. In practice it appears that the savings on the use of chemicals are absolutely achievable. For a crop such as potatoes, where the annual costs of crop protection products amount to €800 per hectare, this can quickly yield €200 per hectare per year. Savings on water use by watering more precisely and at the right time are also significant. Ultimately, it is a matter of trying and measuring to determine which data can lead to which savings and extra revenue.
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Where is your service available?Currently only in the Netherlands. This also depends on the location of your business. If the airspace above your company is not available, for example because your plots are close to an airport, flying a drone with us is not possible. To get an idea, you can use the https://map.godrone.nl/ As a rule, no drone flights are allowed in a red-colored area. If your plots are located in such an area, the options are limited.
FAQ
In practice
Approach
2023 Pilot program
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