Specs.docx

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

CPSRU

SPECIFICATIONS

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

1. Introduction: The eBee TAC fixed wing drone will be used by USDA-ARS-CPSRU researchers to monitor herbicide damage to agricultural fields, to test and calibrate different camera systems, to map USDA-CPSRU Farms on biweekly bases during the summer months, and monthly during the winter months, to map spatial patterns in large agricultural fields, and to complete weed surveys of large areas. Compared to other drones, this drone will provide CPSRU researchers with the ability to not only map small research plots, but the capability to survey large areas. Flying at 400 ft altitude, the drone can acquire imagery of 1,000 acres in approximately 90 minutes (based on camera set up). This drone appears on the Blue UAS list (https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas-cleared-list) of safe and secure drones for government agencies to use. Other drones on this list are primarily rotary drones, and they contain cameras that are not appropriate to meet the research project initiatives.

2. Scope: The vendor will provide the necessary components needed to fly the drone. After purchasing of the drone, all work will be completed by CPSRU personnel.

3. Technical Requirements:

· With all payloads, the drone will weigh less than 55 lbs.

· Can acquire imagery of 1,000 acres in approximately 90 minutes on a single charge/battery

· Drone must be Blue UAS registered

· Drone needs to be fixed wing and not rotary

· Camera must be able to capture imagery for NDVI crop indexes and advanced vegetation analysis

4. Configuration of drone to meet specifications of USDA-ARS-CPSRU researchers:

· eBee Tactical Drone (1)

· Mapping Package Mission Computer (1)

· Spare Part and Maintenance Kit (1)

· RTK Activation (1)

· MicaSense RedEdge MX with eBee Integration Kit (1)

· Pix4D 1 year, 1 Device (1)