«Previous    Next»
“Farm & Ranch Drone” Flies For 2 Hrs.
Showgoers at the World Ag Expo near Tulare, Calif., got a close look at a new kind of drone designed specifically for farmers and ranchers.
    Called “Bulldog™”, the fixed wing aircraft looks somewhat like a miniature airplane. It has a 6 1/2-ft. wingspan mounted on a tough, lightweight airframe made from kevlar, pvc, and carbon fiber among other materials. It weighs just 5 1/2 lbs. empty and can carry a 2 1/2-lb. load. The Bulldog comes with a backward-facing propeller located behind the wings, a long range directional antenna, and multi-camera mounting capability. It has short take-off and landing capabilities.
    Steve Smith, application engineering director, Ultravance Corp., Westlake Village, Calif., designed the Bulldog™. “Local ranchers told me they wanted a drone that could fly long distances and stay in the air long enough to complete the work they needed,” says Smith. “They said most drones can’t fly far enough or long enough, or if they do they’re too expensive.
    “Instead of the typical 30 to 45-min. flight time associated with other drones, the Bulldog flies up to 2 hrs. And instead of a range of less than one mile, the maximum range for the Bulldog is 6 miles, which results in an operational area that’s 12 miles in dia.”
    He says the Bulldog can be flown to search for stray cattle, check fence lines and water tanks, make sure gates are closed, and so forth. “Its long flight time and range make it much more practical to use. Another big benefit is that it runs very quiet to reduce stress on livestock.”
    According to Smith, the long 2-hr. run time is possible because of the long-lasting battery pack, as well as efficient camera technology that creates a very small amount of drain on the battery. “The camera system is amazing, and has incredible stabilization and high resolution,” says Smith.
    The Bulldog sells for $4,950. “Other drones of this size are much more expensive and are very difficult and expensive to repair,” says Smith. “The Bulldog is built with inexpensive parts that can be easily repaired or replaced in the field even if you’re not an aviation technician.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ultravance Corp., 2629 Townsgate Road, Suite 235, Westlake Village, Calif. 91361 (ph 415-601-5575; info@ultravance.com; www.ultravance.com).


  Click here to download page story appeared in.



  Click here to read entire issue




To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.
Order the Issue Containing This Story
2019 - Volume #43, Issue #3