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In this episode of the Do You Know Drones podcast, host Jason San Souci interviews Dr. Brian McCormick, an entomologist from Kansas State University's Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A), at the Kelly Hills Unmanned Ag Field Day. Dr. McCormick highlights the potential for drones to be more than just imaging tools, referring to them as the "Swiss Army knife of the sky". The conversation explores the future trajectory of drone technology beyond simple picture-taking and spraying. The discussion also covers the challenge of scaling drone technology for large-scale crop production and the need for a new generation of pilots.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Brian McCormick from Kansas State University's Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A) views drones as the "Swiss Army knife of the sky," capable of more than just imaging.

• Beyond photography, drones have a variety of applications, such as applying essential products for crop production, dropping sensors to collect data in remote areas, and even delivering anti-venom in rural areas.

• Dr. McCormick's team is exploring novel applications for drones, including deploying pheromone disruptors to "mess with bugs' brains".

• One of the key challenges for the drone industry is scaling operations, as current pilot demographics are aging, creating a need for a new generation of pilots.

• While it is difficult to predict exactly where drone technology will be in the next 3 to 5 years due to constantly evolving policy and industry needs, the industry is still in its early stages.

• According to Jason San Souci, the true sign of success for drone technology will be when it "disappears" and is simply seen as a tool, becoming a part of everyday life.

• Disruption in technology forces a need for novel solutions and different ways of thinking, which is not always comfortable but is necessary for growth.

⌛ Timestamps:

[00:00:00] - Dr. McCormick discusses what drones can do beyond taking pictures and how the anti-venom delivery demonstration at the event highlighted new possibilities.

[00:02:30] - Dr. McCormick describes drones as the "Swiss Army knife of the sky" and gives examples of various uses beyond imaging.

[00:03:01] - The discussion turns to the challenge of applying drone technology at scale for crop production and the aging pilot demographic.

[00:04:10] - Dr. McCormick shares an example of a creative application, using drones to deploy pheromone disruptors to confuse insects.

[00:05:39] - Jason San Souci states that the industry is still in its early stages and that the technology will have truly succeeded when it is simply viewed as a tool.

[00:06:25] - Dr. McCormick discusses how disruption, such as a major change in drone technology, forces people to find novel solutions.

Follow the Guest Dr. Brian McCormick:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmccornack/

Follow the Host Jason San Souci:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsansouci/

🔗 More from Do You Know Drones:

 👉 Website: https://www.droneopsusa.com/

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afe-advisor-llc/

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dykdrones/#

👉 X(Twitter): https://x.com/DronesDyk

👉 Email: [email protected]

Follow the Podcast:

 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/do-you-know-drones/id1479307112

👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OtyfQcB0tW6abhhke7zq9?si=3a386b3e0bba4731

#drones #Kansas #agtech #unmannedsystems #agrifieldday #dronetechnology #innovation #BrianMcCormick #JasonSanSouci #agriculture