Drone-fired peanut butter pellets: A government plan to save endangered ferrets

Post by Aelinsaar » Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 12:55 AM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #6

Aelinsaar wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At a guess, cropdusters are not designed to dispense something as thick and colloidal as peanut butter, and they're designed to maximize coverage. Presumably these animals do better with "pellets" of peanut butter, rather than a fine mist of peanut butter slurry applied evenly over the landscape. Presumably, everyone does better with that.

Cropdusters, I believe, used to be able to broadcast either seed or other matter[1], if outfitted properly. So, I think it's possible, they'd just need the right attachment for the belly of the Ag Cat, Snow AT or similar. On the other hand a drone might be cheaper to rent a operate than a personned aircraft. [1] http://reveg-catalog.tamu.edu/09-Seeding.htm#Aircraft_Spread...

Post by dghughes » Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 2:37 AM UTC

Post by niccaluim » Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 4:36 AM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #6

Aelinsaar wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At a guess, cropdusters are not designed to dispense something as thick and colloidal as peanut butter, and they're designed to maximize coverage. Presumably these animals do better with "pellets" of peanut butter, rather than a fine mist of peanut butter slurry applied evenly over the landscape. Presumably, everyone does better with that.

Cropdusters, I believe, used to be able to broadcast either seed or other matter[1], if outfitted properly. So, I think it's possible, they'd just need the right attachment for the belly of the Ag Cat, Snow AT or similar. On the other hand a drone might be cheaper to rent a operate than a personned aircraft. [1] http://reveg-catalog.tamu.edu/09-Seeding.htm#Aircraft_Spread...

Post by niels_olson » Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 5:25 AM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #16

niccaluim wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Way cheaper, and safer.

Good point about the safety. That said, a nice Ag Cat or Snow AT can carry a hefty load of those pellets in the hopper and spread it with venturi or even a centrifugal broadcaster. Probably a ton or two or more?

Post by mnbcvx » Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 5:45 AM UTC

paavokoya wrote: post #18

mnbcvx wrote: post #10

The idea of using drones to drop something helpful... What would the world look like now if for the past 15 years drones had been dropping computers, medicine, water purifiers, seeds, etc.? How many millions of parachute-fitted, protective boxes worth of these things could we have dropped for the same amount spent on war?

I imagine the refugee crisis wouldn't exist. People with computers rarely go outside.. (but seriously they would be able to work remotely much like the Indian tech sector)