AerHyve, PrecisionHawk ink data analysis partnership
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
AerHyve's software processes data from drone flights that give farms hard-to-obtain information on the status of their crops
WOLFVILLE, N.S.—Data analysis firm AerHyve Aerial Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with Raleigh, N.C.-based remote sensor and drone maker PrecisionHawk.
AerHyve analyzes multi-sensor data from drones—also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—for use in precision agriculture.
AerHyve says this partnership will provide its clients with access to PrecisionHawk’s hardware and software tools. For AerHyve, the partnership will bring increased exposure and scalability to its data analysis tools.
“We value AerHyve for their regional presence and expertise in the development of algorithms for UAV data analysis,” said Christopher Dean, PrecisionHawk CEO. “This partnership will allow us to expand and customize our services while equipping AerHyve clients to make more informed business decisions.”
AerHyve provides agricultural operations with actionable data on the status of their crops that otherwise would be difficult, if not impossible, to access. By processing aerial data with Machine Learning technology, AerHyve produces information to make targeted resource allocation decisions. AerHyve’s initial focus has been on the wild blueberry industry, Nova Scotia’s largest fruit crop. However, its technology can be applied to other types of crop analysis.
“The partnership with PrecisionHawk will empower AerHyve with an end-to-end system for incorporating aerial data into an agricultural workflow; from innovative UAV hardware to a library of data analysis tools,” said John Frost, President, AerHyve Aerial Technologies.
“Our precision agriculture developments focus on the ability to detect plant health and stresses outside of the normal human range of visualization,” says Frost. By pooling multiple data streams like microclimate, surrounding habitat, soil composition and moisture, we’re also looking deeper into the patterns of growing cycles and associated anomalies. This information can inform small changes that yield big results.”
Frost says their developments will also ultimately be used to optimize harvest and pollination efficacy and increase yields.
Acadia University’s Rural Innovation Centre supported AerHyve’s development through their small business incubation services. AerHyve also received a 2014-2015 Nova Scotia Productivity & Innovation voucher, and were a finalist for the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Innovator Award (2014).
