Researchers at the University of Illinois have used sensitive aerial scanners to measure key crop characteristics from the air, according an article on the Ohio's Country Journal website.

Researchers conducted three airborne flights over a cornfield during the 2019 growing season. For each flight, the plane was equipped with a camera capable of hyperspectral imaging.

Hyperspectral imaging collects more light than the eye can register and collates it to make a visual representation.

Researchers were able to match the data collected from the flights against data collected from the field, up to an accuracy of 85%.