On a chilly morning, the Engineering Service Learning Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team visited the 52nd World Ag Expo. The World Ag Expo is the largest agricultural exposition where the latest technological advances in farm equipment and agricultural practices are displayed. The team went out to see what information they could obtain to help with the current project on the infestation of nematodes in walnut trees. Additionally, this trip served as a team bonding event where all members got in interact with their new team members by doing fun activities centered around agricultural lifestyle.
The UAS Team made its way down to Tulare where they had a first glance of the amount of people attending the event. Miles away from the event, the long lines of pickup trucks were growing in numbers on the highway where it became noticeable the large agricultural community in California. After being greeted by the snowy Sierras in the background, the team walked down the muddy parking lot with our tennis shoes where we soon came to realize we didn’t anticipate this type of environment at an expo. Being out of place, the team was determined to absorb as much of the community. The members visited various exhibitions were team members asked questions regarding agricultural scans using unmanned aerial vehicles. Most of the team are second years, so this was their first time interacting with professionals. They learned how to approach a representative of a company and the importance of doing prior research of the topic to engage in a conversation that can benefit their project. Prior to the trip, the team had done research on the problem, but never put much though into researching the solution possibilities and the role the UAS Team will take part on. After speaking with companies like AeroVironment, the team came to realize that there would be no way to scan for insects inside the soil. Current technology would only be able to tell a farmer the health of a vegetation and where it may be under stress. Every exhibition with a drone display would tell us this same concept and how they would like to achieve a point where technology will allow them to achieve this. Another astonishing fact the team came to realize was that the processing companies of walnuts have no part in eliminating nor identifying insects in the soil prior to harvesting walnuts. Turlock Walnut Company gave us an insight into the role a farmer plays where the company will only pay for well harvested walnuts and reject the infected walnuts. The farmer is ultimately the person who suffers economically if insects are damaging their crops because those crops are their main source of income. The team recapped after visiting exhibitions and gained a full perspective of the problem and the lifestyle of the agriculture community. The team became fully aware of what their new approach to the problem will be and how they will plan to do with this project. The new plan consisted of proposing a solution where a correlation will be built from the thermal readings of a sensor on a drone with the soil samples of the fields and hope to see a relationship.
The UAS Team interacted in a meaning conversation with AeroVironment on the technological advances their drone was capable on agricultural fields.
Alex Taylor (left) and Juan Villasenor (right) competed in Mobil’s Tire Changing Challenge where they tried to successfully change the tire of competitive race car.
"HortGrow" explained to our UAS Team the use of organic soil and the benefits of converting to a healthy alternative to the environment
"E-Z Go" handed us samples of their new product for terminating insects, particularly nematodes, inside the soils of the fields.
UAV member discusses different types of nematodes active in todays Almond Trees.
THE MAN THE MYTH THE LEGEND!!!!!!!!!
