Precision farming is set to become even more precise with a new camera drawing on satellite imaging. Together with VITO, and thanks to ESA research on new cameras, Cubert developed a hyperspectral camera connected to a drone. These cameras are now able to see details as small as 4–5 cm big.
Three customers are already using the first version of the ButterflEYE LS camera: one is conducting biological diversity studies in Denmark, one is used for agricultural research in Australia, and the last one focusing on providing commercial data to farmers in Italy.
“Our first customers were really keen on getting the high resolution, which is the best you can currently get from a hyperspectral product,” notes René Michels, CEO of Germany’s airborne specialist Cubert. They collaborated with Belgium’s VITO Remote Sensing and IMEC for the camera development.
The camera explores the potential of a novel hyperspectral imaging chip from IMEC and VITO’s image processing, honed by working with ESA on remote sensing satellites.
Weighing just 400g, the powerful camera fits easily on a small unmanned aircraft to deliver detailed measurements for precision agriculture, while it also has potential in forestry, biomass monitoring, waste and pollution management.
Read the full story on the ESA website.