Spraying pesticides on a crop field

Consider the following activities:

1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field
2. Inspecting the crates of active volcanoes
3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis

At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Explanation

Drones are already well known to spread pesticides and inspecting volcanoes remotely. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are true.

Since 2015 Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Cape Cod have begun using a helicopter-style drone to monitor humpback whales off the coast, collecting breath samples from their blowholes and taking aerial pictures. Getting a breath sample from a whale isn't the easiest task in the world. But with the help of a hexacopter, scientists are getting the job done.

• Exam Year: 2020