New Common Protocol for UAS Operation

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The need for a system to provide UAS users in agriculture with a way to record information about their flights, sensors and maintenance issues has led to the development of an innovative solution: A free, web-based application that will allow those using UAS to easily log their flight-related data. The UAS User Log is a digital log book available around the world to serve those using unmanned aerial systems for research, crop production, spray applications and other activities. Users will be able to employ the logbook for everything from tracking flights for research and business uses to gauging the life of batteries.

The logbook provides options to interactively record the date, time and location of a flight, the make, model and registration information of the device, status of battery charge, type of flight (autonomous or manual), types of sensors used and data collected, safety precautions taken, weather during the flight and other related information, according to purdue.edu.

Dharmendra Saraswat, an associate professor in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, led the team that included researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University and Texas A&M University.

The solution brings standardization to flight data collection. Users can access the UAS User Log application from any device that connects to the internet, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop and laptop computers. Once loaded, the application does not need an internet connection or mobile data to function since the information logged is stored on the user’s device.

There is also a feedback option that allows users to communicate with Saraswat and his team to make suggestions for improvements or elements that should be added.