51 unmanned systems
inside
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ENGINEERING. PRACTICE. POLICY.
a higher level of actual data about crop health,
water levels and chemical levels. The results do
not have to be delivered in real time, however,
because the crops are not moving. It's a static
problem, Wells said, and the data analysis can
be done after the f light.
"But in the fishing industry it's not a static
problem. So it's less about really robust data
analysis and more about real-time data deliv-
ery—so we turn out a lower level of analysis
for a higher level of speed," Wells told Inside
Unmanned Systems.
Venture Capital
Planck's technology has attracted both venture
capital investment and a major industry partner.
Planck won a spot in the Launchpad incu-
bator program run by the Procopio law firm.
Launchpad invests in the firms it selects—typ-
ically $25,000 to $100,000—provides free of-
fice space and access to a network of mentors,
investors and advisors.
This May Planck signed a deal with Parrot,
selling Parrot a 23.2 percent interest in the
firm for an undisclosed sum. Interestingly a
translation of the Parrot press release men-
tioning the deal describes Planck as "develop-
ing drone surveillance solutions for the Navy."
Planck put its infusion of money to work,
completing a recent round of hiring and secur-
ing testing infrastructure.
"We're sort of maniacal about testing and
validation and ensuring reliability, said Wells,
who noted the company owns a boat test plat-
form and has an indoor test facility. "For us
reliability is really the name of the game and
the way that you get to reliability is through
rigorous testing."
"IF YOU HAVE A
MOVING SHIP DECK
it would be very
diffi cult to land as the
ship heaves and rolls
about on the surface
of the ocean."
Tim McLain, Planck technical
advisor, professor of mechanical
engineering at Brigham Young
University, director of the Center
for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
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