The author argues that regulatory barriers on drone use impact greenhouse gas emissions.  |  Getty Images

Reconsider drone sprayer regulation

The harmonization of regulations between neighbouring countries makes everything easier, and chemical application technology looks like a simple one to match that of our southern neighbours. Historically, sprayers were designed with a boom containing nozzles that were evenly spaced, allowing for chemicals to be consistently applied across the entire field. As advances in electronics, robotics […] Read more

Leila Benmerrouche, a research associate with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, sets up the system prior to flight. | Maycie McWillie/SaskPolytechnic photo

Ninety minutes of hang time helps build detailed files

New drone technology and LiDAR sensors create detailed maps of farm fields, allowing for broad scientific approach

The Ag in Motion Discovery Farm was recently used to fly the latest in state-of-the-art drone technology. It’s a remotely piloted aircraft system, which was recently added to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s fleet of eight aircraft used for training and applied research. “We went to this newest platform with cutting edge light detection and ranging system that […] Read more

The various versions of GuardBot range in size from six-inches in diameter all the way up to seven feet. But it's always round, except for the two clear pods which can contain ground penetrating radar and geologic testing equipment to collect subsurface data. On land it rolls along at speeds up to 12 miles per hour. In water it splashes along at three m.p.h. It can move forward or backward and make 360 degree spins.  It can operate continuously for up to 25 hours on one charge. |  Aquiline photo

Mars’ loss is our Earth’s gain

When we think drones, we envision UAV fixed-wing or rotary flying devices. Well, there’s now a UAV rolling ball that’s equally comfortable travelling across land, water or the Martian countryside. Meet GuardBot, a spherical drone that doesn’t fly. It rolls across the surface of the Earth or across water gathering data using sensors, including those […] Read more


The world's largest retailer applied for six patents last year on drones that aim to prevent damage to crops, control pest attacks on farms and cross-pollinate plants, according to U.S. Patents and Trademark Office documents that were made public last week and seen by Reuters. | File photo

Walmart patents hint at a drone future for ag

One application would use drones to identify pests and dispense insecticides, while another features pollen dispensers

NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) — Walmart Inc.’s patent filings hint that it may see a future where farmers use its drones to not only spot crop problems but selectively apply chemicals or even disperse pollen to bring shoppers the freshest and cheapest food possible. The world’s largest retailer applied for six patents last year on drones […] Read more

Sentera’s NDVI camera is designed to provide live field images that the agrologist or farmer can use immediately.  |  Sentera photo

Sentera links processor with sensor for live NDVI

The Double 4K sensor-processor combination on Sentera drones has its own camera design to provide more accurate images

Coupling a computer to RGB and NIR sensors in a drone provides true NDVI data on-the-fly over a field without translation back at the office. However, if that’s such a smart idea, why wasn’t it done before? Sentera of Minnesota unveiled its revolutionary Double 4K sensor and processer at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las […] Read more


Matt Reimer's tractor and grain cart follow him everywhere he wants them to, including to the combine to pick up grain in the field.  |  Matt Reimer photo

Robot tractor handles heat of harvest

Manitoba farmer says driverless drone pulls grain cart to where it’s needed while combines keep on rolling

A driverless tractor and grain cart travel across a Manitoba field, pull up beside a rolling combine where farmer Matt Reimer unloads his grain on-the-go. Reimer presses a key on his laptop and the tractor pulls to the left and stops, waiting to be called again. “This will save us about $5,000 in labour this […] Read more