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Overfunding
/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/pitch_pics/original/202004/blob_82596f7ba218e5a210504ee0c21c3352)
Drone Ag has successfully launched Skippy Scout, a platform that automates drone systems to scout crops more efficiently. They're raising further investment to develop the next versions of the software, moving towards creating a fully autonomous, integrated drone platform for agriculture using AI.
- Launched March 2020, 50 paying users signed up in the first month
- Won Gold Future Innovation Award at LAMMA 2020
- Featured in over 45 print publications since November 2019
- Specialist Analysis Models and Automated Drone Flight Algorithms
Idea
:max_bytes(50000)/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/opportunity_section_media/original/202004/launch-screen_705bc4937d12d0ab10d972afafb262dc.jpg "The Skippy Scout App.")
The Skippy Scout App.
:max_bytes(50000)/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/opportunity_section_media/original/202004/home_421dfc54e84dba4f0a1c3ef928e25fab.jpg "The Home Screen.")
The Home Screen.
:max_bytes(50000)/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/opportunity_section_media/original/202004/farm_b1fb3bf85cd56aecad1e397a6c83fa67.jpg "We've designed the app so that adding a farm and fields is very simple.")
We've designed the app so that adding a farm and fields is very simple.
:max_bytes(50000)/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/opportunity_section_media/original/202004/flight_b8f5709362e218ff7a23f32012a75c5b.jpg "The automated flight route and progress is shown to the user as the drone flies.")
The automated flight route and progress is shown to the user as the drone flies.
:max_bytes(50000)/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/opportunity_section_media/original/202004/scout-screen_ef9175aa19ff9bd88325362255221cdc.jpg "During the flight, images are downloaded directly to the users phone. Users can see the location of the image in the field, and share when needed.")
During the flight, images are downloaded directly to the users phone. Users can see the location of the image in the field, and share when needed.
:max_bytes(50000)/https://files-crowdcube-com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/opportunity_section_media/original/202004/scout-screen-ai_01988c24400d3d61a291fbdf6d887a88.jpg "We plan for images to also be analysed by our AI very soon, highlighting and quantifying problems like crop disease, weeds and low growth to users.")
We plan for images to also be analysed by our AI very soon, highlighting and quantifying problems like crop disease, weeds and low growth to users.
After a successful crowdfund last year, we have now built & launched our fully featured software platform. Skippy Scout allows users to scout their crops with just their phone & an affordable off-the-shelf drone. 5x faster than crop walking, it covers more land in more detail. It can reduce labour, chemical use and costs, and crucially it helps to reduce yield loss.
Alongside completing our AI model, we've developed an API that:
- Communicates with both our app and 3rd party data sources/platforms, allowing us to source terrain & hazard data needed for our specialist flight planning algorithm to create the safe, efficient, low altitude flight route needed for an automated drone
- Provides a simple solution for future integrations that will add further value
Once integrated with Skippy the AI will provide users with efficient analysis & guidance on problems in their crops using images collected by the drone.
Over the next 6 months we plan to build V2.5 to further enhance our automated drone flight system, adding live mapping, airspace & weather awareness, and plan to integrate with leading farm management platforms. We are in the process of applying for an Innovate UK grant to part-fund development of V3; using an automated charging platform & extended range, we expect that it will enable Skippy Scout to fly drone systems when & where needed, without the need for a human in the loop.
