Drone Swarms to Reseed Oregon Rangelands

By Mike Ball / 21 Feb 2019

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

DroneSeed UAV

DroneSeed has announced that it has signed a contract with global conservation organization The Nature Conservancy to utilize swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to restore rangelands in the state of Oregon affected by invasive species and re-seed native plants, which is vital to conservation of the ecosystem and imperiled species, like the sage-grouse. The contract with DroneSeed provides The Nature Conservancy access to drone swarm technology designed to scale to plant and protect significant acreage while planting in precision areas to boost survival rates.

The aircraft operate in swarms of up to five drones and as a group service greater area faster despite terrain. To provide precision seeding, the company uses software to aerially deploy seed vessels to targeted areas, called microsites, where they’ll grow best. To service significant acreage, DroneSeed’s heavy lift aircraft carry 57 lbs. of seed vessels per drone. These vessels improve seed survival by reducing desiccation or ‘drying up,’ which is a common problem on arid rangelands. DroneSeed will be aerially deploying its own proprietary seed vessels and vessels developed by The Nature Conservancy and its partners.

DroneSeed is the first and only company approved by the FAA to operate with swarms of up to five aircraft weighing more than 55 lbs.

Restoration of sagebrush steppe habitat in the western U.S. is a significant challenge. The sagebrush steppe is being lost at an alarming rate – only 50 percent still exists, with the remaining 50 percent at risk of being lost in just the next 50 years. More than 350 species of wildlife depend on this habitat as do rural ranching communities. Both people and nature are challenged by invasive weeds and increasingly large and frequent wildfires. Many groups, such as federal and state governments, NGOs, and the ranching industry are rising to the challenge, but need new tools to be successful. The Nature Conservancy is working across the west to explore new ways to increase success and reduce costs.

Jay Kerby, Southeast Oregon Project Manager at The Nature Conservancy said, “Working with research partners, we have been testing a variety of high-tech solutions for restoration seeding. We’re excited to get some first-hand experience with the new options that drones could provide, such as improved precision of mapping and seeding priority treatment areas. For this project, we’ll be mapping about 75 acres of sagebrush habitat with scattered weed patches that are inefficient to target and treat with conventional methods. We are always looking for ways to innovate, especially when it can help us increase the pace and scale of habitat restoration to benefit both nature and people. We are excited to work with DroneSeed to explore the possibilities.”

DroneSeed’s CEO and Founder Grant Canary said, “The Nature Conservancy is an ideal partner for us as we’re highly aligned on mission and are both engaged in developing and advancing technology solutions for conservation outcomes. Our objective with this project is to test and demonstrate that this innovative approach can achieve successful restoration faster and more efficiently than conventional methods.”

The drone swarm technology and its design for scalable planting have future implications. The organization Nature4Climate recently published in a peer-reviewed paper that ‘natural climate solutions’ such as restoring rangelands, planting forests, and conserving habitat could provide 1/3 of the global emissions reductions called for under the Paris Agreement. The Nature Conservancy is a partner of Nature4Climate with the International Union of Concerned Scientists, UN-REDD, The World Resources Institute, and the Woods Hole Research Center.

DroneSeed’s technology has numerous applications for industry post-wildfire. DroneSeed recently completed its first post-fire forestry project for one of the top five timber companies in the U.S., which was impacted by the Grave Creek Fire near Medford, OR which burned over 7,000 acres. Rather than planting seedlings that require a two-year wait to grow in greenhouses, they opted to plant immediately with DroneSeed’s seed vessels and reduce later vegetation clearing costs.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Gremsy Unveils Advanced Payload & Gimbal Solutions at Japan Drone 2025

Gremsy showcased its latest gimbal and payload innovations at Japan Drone 2025, marking a strategic entry into Japan’s highly demanding drone market

Jun 18, 2025
How Parylene Coatings Address PCB Corrosion Risks in Critical Devices

Specialty Coating Systems (SCS) details how corrosion in printed circuit boards (PCBs) can compromise critical systems, and explains the protective role of Parylene coatings

Jun 18, 2025
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía to Advance Autonomy in European VTOL Defense Drones

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía will supply critical autonomous navigation technology for Europe’s VANTAGE project, advancing next-gen VTOL drone capabilities for defense operations

Jun 18, 2025
Small Propeller-Driven UAS Launched Effect for Uncrewed Operations

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has unveiled the PELE, a versatile, semi-autonomous uncrewed launched effect with 7 hour endurance, optimized for use on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®, that can also be launched from the ground

Jun 18, 2025
Product Spotlight: ACM1000 MEMS Sensor for Multi-Parameter Vibration Monitoring

Micro-Magic outlines the capabilities of its ACM1000 digital MEMS vibration sensor, engineered for high-accuracy monitoring with multi-parameter outputs and robust performance in demanding environments

Jun 18, 2025
FPV Drone Showcased in Live Military Demonstration

Astra Systems has demonstrated its advanced Arbiter 1A FPV drone to the U.S. Army, showcasing tactical agility, ISR capabilities, and battlefield readiness

Jun 18, 2025

Featured Content

HBK Updates RTK Service for Precise Positioning in Autonomous Systems

HBK has updated its SensorCloud RTK service, integrating with MicroStrain by HBK navigation systems to provide centimeter-level accuracy and simplified deployment for autonomous systems

Jun 17, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
Calian GNSS Unveils New Anti-Jamming CRPA with XF+ Filtering

Calian GNSS has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a compact CRPA antenna with in-band null forming and XF+ filtering for resilient GNSS performance in interference-prone environments

Jun 06, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.