Drones officially capable of cloud seeding

Cloud seeding can now be added to the growing list of drone uses. The Desert Research Institute announced that it had completed the first unmanned cloud seeding flight in history. According to a press release, the drone flew up to 400 feet and remained in the air for 18 minutes. Since this was a test flight, no clouds were actually seeded to induce more rainfall. The drone simply unloaded the payload of two silver-iodide flares.

The drone used is said to be capable of much more than what was exhibited during the test flight. The webpage for Drone America’s Savant fixed-wing aircraft said the UAV is capable of up to two hours of flight time and can carry an 8-pound payload, although a full payload is likely to reduce the flight time. The Savant also has a maximum speed of 85 miles per hour and is capable of reaching an altitude of 12,000 feet. The altitude is likely to be affected by how much weight the aircraft is carrying. Flight time may likewise be reduced if the Savant is going top speed.

The test flight was carried out in Nevada, which has been working to combat the effects of drought in the state. The flight also took place at a Federal Aviation Administration test site, highlighting the fact that the technology is not about to go mainstream overnight. Since relaxing regulations against commercial unmanned flights, the FAA has issued hundreds of exemptions. The US and other countries are working to meet the strong demand to expand the uses of drones, but regulatory changes are slow-moving.

In the meantime, drone makers have been getting ready. UAVs for farming have been a special submarket of interest because the agricultural industry has been wanting to use drones for a variety of commercial uses for years now. DJI even got into the mix with its own agricultural drone. DJI’s UAV is not a fixed-wing aircraft, but there is bound to be an overlap in the future for drones that can crop dust and drones that can cloud seed. Future UAVs may only need minimal modifications to cater to multiple industries.