The CEO of Precision AI says the company’s autonomous aerial system is designed to refine a farmer’s decision-making capabilities in the field and save money.
Daniel McCann says combining artificial intelligence and advanced cameras allow the system to increase crop protection efficiency.
“The AI actually runs in real time.” He says, “There’s a camera and an artificial intelligence platform that actually runs on the drone itself as it flies over the field. It scans ahead of it. It can actually differentiate between weeds and crop and precision spray just when there’s weeds present.”
He tells Brownfield the system offers less compaction than ground sprayers, greater application timing flexibility, and cost savings.
“We actually noted about an 83% reduction in pesticide.” He says, “We did a side by side trial of just your normal ground sprayer broadcasting chemical all over the place and then using our precision technology from the air. And there is no difference in the weed control outcomes, but our strip had 83% herbicide savings.”
McCann says Precision AI is continuing to run field trials this year and expects a limited commercial roll out in 2026 with greater availability in 2027.
Cooperative Ventures, a joint venture of farmer-owned cooperatives CHS and GROWMARK, recently announced an investment in Precision AI to help further development of the technology.
Source: https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/
