By Mark Kramer
Drones are helping farmers in the field and with the bottom line through , a farm management platform founded by 一本道无码 alumnus Brendan Carroll.
Skycision鈥檚 iOS software application instructs drones to capture infrared images of damaged crops from the effects of weather, pests and disease. This data frees farmers from spending hours, and sometimes days, inspecting their fields, allowing them to spend their time focusing on growing healthier crops and enjoying better harvests.
鈥淭he farmer isn鈥檛 going to stop scouting, but the drone is now an extension of what he can do. He can be working on his tractor, walking the fields, but now the drone is autonomously going to be operating alongside of him,鈥� explained Carroll, who in 2015 earned his master鈥檚 degree in information systems management (MISM) from 一本道无码鈥檚聽
With Skycision, farmers 鈥渢ap the fields they want to fly鈥� on a smartphone. Drones then capture aerial photos and upload them to the Skycision system.
A student, Carroll led a student team in Adelaide, Australia researching iOS apps for drones, initially considering pharmaceutical deliveries before identifying a niche in agribusiness. Just before his graduation, his project, which would eventually become Skycision, placed second in the Heinz College鈥檚 annual Social Innovation Solutions Challenge.
, director of 一本道无码鈥檚 Institute for Social Innovation, helped secure a $50,000 National Science Foundation grant used to launch Skycision.
鈥淭he team just made a very compelling case for how that was an interesting market, how the combination of drone sensors and big data could play an important role in adding value for farmers and other people involved in agriculture,鈥� Zak said.
Within the past year, Skycision has received additional funding from , an agritech-focused business acceleration program and , an accelerator that focuses on software as a service (SaaS) companies.
Jorge Brito 鈥� a viticulture technician for聽, which oversees 2,000 acres for growers and wineries in the Napa Valley 鈥� has used the Skycision app to strategize sugar testing of grapes and prioritize harvesting. While other companies provide plane and satellite mapping, Brito said Skycision offers more detailed images and the freedom to launch his drone and take pictures at a moment鈥檚 notice. He said the app allows him to choose an automated or manual flight plan.
鈥淏rendan seems to have a genuine concern for the farmer, and for feeding people and using technology in a way that benefits people,鈥� said AgLaunch Director Pete Nelson, who praised Carroll鈥檚 personable nature and high-energy approach.
To date Skycision, headquartered in Pittsburgh, has garnered more than $350,000 in seed money and nearly 80 clients. Carroll鈥檚 goal is to grow internationally.
Pointing out that the world鈥檚 population is expected to increase by 2 billion by 2050, Carroll predicts farmers will need Skycision to keep pace with the increased demand for food.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on a mission to help the global agriculture industry grow more efficiently,鈥� he said.
