The USDA is funding a drone cow facial recognition project at the University of Kentucky until 2021. The USDA is testing to see if drones can monitor the health of farm animals. “2.5 million US cattle die every year from health issues, accounting for 60% of the cattle losses.”  Multiple 3DR Solo drones hover between 90 to 270 feet above the herd using various cameras down facing to gather the facials of various cows. one drone serves as the data collector while the other drones filter their data  (such as biometric volume) to the central unit. Currently, the tests are centered in the lab (using Chuck a 3D model) to ensure this method of autonomous flight is safe prior to going live in the field.    Learn More About Chuck and Cow Facial Recognition!