Kiwis fly first with drone technology

OPINION

A saying in the dog-sledding communities of Alaska is if you’re not the lead dog then the view never changes.  

New Zealand is leading the pack when it comes to the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology – commonly known as drones.

The significance should not be underestimated. Recent market research has forecast the economic impact of UAV technology, in the US alone, to be $82 billion by 2025 and will create 100,000 jobs. 

The US allows only limited commercial use of UAVs. This means New Zealand has been able to surge ahead with design and real-world experience. 

When the US airspace opens up to more UAV activity, we could find ourselves in the premium position of having competitive, proven products ready for sale. 

Under our laws, commercial UAVs can be used as long as they operate in line of sight of the person controlling them and are flown beneath 400ft. 

However, the technology is capable of much more than that: UAVs can be flown from anywhere or pre-programmed to follow a flight path and undertake functions using GPS.

The challenge ahead is to navigate the complex issues around airspace. No country has yet developed a workable regulatory framework. The University of Canterbury recently sought permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to open a new zone to test beyond line-of-sight technology. 

If approved, it will be a valuable step for the industry and undoubtedly attract the interest of international firms and draw foreign investment.

Callaghan Innovation supports several companies that have developed high-end devices that can be attached to UAVs – either fixed wing or rotating wing like a helicopter – ranging from video cameras and thermal sensing devices to booms for spraying crops. 

While the use of drones by the US military is the most widely reported and dramatic use of UAVs, in fact their single biggest application is in agriculture. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently ranked agricultural drones as the number one breakthrough technology for 2014 and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International predicts 80% of the commercial market for UAVs will eventually be for agricultural uses.

They can be used to monitor the condition of crops, the impact of droughts or floods, the location of livestock and requirements for fertilisation and irrigation. By compiling and digitally analysing records from multiple flights and multiple farms over time, new insights can be gained regarding climate change, water resource management and rates of soil erosion.  

In New Zealand, with its rugged landscape, UAVs might become an integral part of monitoring dairy herds and pastures.

Several New Zealand businesses have taken the lead in UAV technologies. Aeronavics, based in Raglan, produces high quality multi-rotor products that are sold around the world for aerial photography, filmmaking and industrial applications. 

Palmerston North-based Hawkeye UAV has also developed applications for farm mapping, pasture measurement, survey and imagery that are used in nine countries. 

Tauranga’s GPS-it is using UAVs to map and audit kiwifruit orchards (including the spread of Psa disease), while Ravensdown is using UAVs for remote sensing of soil nutrients and precision fertiliser application. 

Transpower and several other electricity distribution companies are collaborating on novel methods to monitor electricity lines and infrastructure, while the Coastguard is set to test a new search and rescue drone. 

New Zealand has a significant advantage when it comes to testing new aviation technology because of the geography and remoteness. Large areas are sparsely populated. 

An extensive Exclusive Economic Zone provides 30 million square kilometres of airspace, one of the largest in the world. Being on the edge of the world has its benefits. 

To accelerate the progress of the home-grown UAV industry, Callaghan Innovation has led the establishment of a new industry association, UAVNZ, set up testing sites and connected research and manufacturing firms. We are preparing an economic case study to inform future regulations and policy and will work with the CAA to open up more airspace for testing.

The world is quickly grasping the capabilities and economic potential of UAVs. New Zealand has a head start. If we’re smart, we will get to enjoy the view while everyone else chases our tail.

Dr Quin is chief executive of Callaghan Innovation