Drones in agriculture have several advantages, and they are one of the technologies advancing precision farming. Precision agriculture is the study of using technology to increase efficiency, productivity, crop output, and profitability. By the end of 2025, economists predict that drones in agriculture will be worth a staggering $5 billion.
Benefits Of Drones For farmers and agronomists to evaluate the health of their crops, drones are a powerful tool. They can gather data more quickly and effectively than they could with conventional techniques by using drones to acquire a general picture of their domains.
Farmers will be able to use drones to monitor the health of their plants, determine where they may need additional nutrients or water, and identify any pest activity before it spreads out of control.
Farmers may save money by using drones to swiftly spot issues that could otherwise go unnoticed, saving them time and money. The incorrect strategy might result in lost crops costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars since problems were not identified early enough on the ground.
Also Read: Benefits Of Drones
Uses Of Drones In Agriculture
The usage of drones in agriculture is a part of a growing trend to incorporate cutting-edge technologies into farming practices so that farmers may streamline their workflow and use resources more effectively.
Drones may be used for a variety of tasks in agriculture, but their primary function is to collect extremely precise data using a variety of sensors. This information may then be used to create various maps and 3D models of the region, which can be used to analyze crop health, spot plant disease and stress, and pinpoint irrigation issues.
Fast Data Acquisition For Accurate Farm Analysis
Drones can assist farmers and agronomists in building extremely precise maps and 3D models of the region using a technique called drone photogrammetry. A topographical map of the farms may be created using drone mapping software like Pix4DFields or Drone Deploy by stitching together photos taken by drones. Drones may be equipped with a variety of cameras, including RGB, multispectral, and thermal cameras, giving farmers access to many sorts of data.
Farmers will be able to make the required modifications thanks to the data from these maps to keep the land fruitful and healthy. Drones are simple to deploy, so farmers can get field data as often as they’d like. This will help them spot problems as soon as they arise, give them time to come up with a plan of action, and lessen any potential harm these problems may cause.
time & Cost Saving
Farmers will be able to make the required modifications thanks to the data from these maps to keep the land fruitful and healthy. Drones are simple to deploy, so farmers can acquire field data as often as they’d like. This will help them see problems as soon as they arise, give them time to come up with a plan of action, and lessen any potential harm these problems may cause.
Improved Crop Yields
Farmers can quickly and often collect agricultural data thanks to drones, which help them stay on top of things like irrigation problems, plant diseases, and soil quality. For crops to grow and farmers to satisfy agricultural output objectives, all of these factors must be in their ideal state. Farmers and agronomists can increase crop output overall through precision agriculture by prescribing variable rates based on data.
Farmers will easily be able to spot portions of the field that aren’t producing healthy crops, figure out what the issue is, and only treat that region if any treatment is necessary by employing remote sensing equipment. In the long run, this will increase crop output, crop quality overall, and cost savings.
Safer Way To Spray Crops
Farmers will always have to deal with pests and plant diseases, and physically applying pesticides to crops is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and unhealthy. Drones are significantly safer and more effective than physical labor and land-based technology for treating sick plants.
Smart drones also have autonomous flying modes, allowing farmers to arrange flight paths exclusively around the fields that require treatment while leaving the healthier portions of the field chemical-free. Farmers will save money by avoiding treating plants that don’t require it, making this method of crop treatment safer overall.
Types Of Drones Used In Agriculture
Fixed-wing and multi-copter drones are the two types of drones used in agriculture. Fixed-wing drones are more durable than multi-copter drones; they can resist extreme weather conditions and often have longer flight times. Fixed-wing drones require a large takeoff and landing area due to their design, which makes them more expensive.
Compared to fixed-wing drones, multi-copter drones are significantly more adaptable, simpler to fly, and considerably less expensive. Multi-copter drones can be used for precision pesticide, fertilizer, and even seeding spraying in addition to photogrammetry because of their unique design.
DJI Phantom 4 Multispectral
For farmers and agronomists, the DJI Phantom 4 Multispectral drone is an effective tool. The multispectral sensor enables you to measure nutrient levels, identify soil moisture, and more to learn more about the health of crops.
Farmers will be able to monitor plant growth and check crop health with the use of the DJI Phantom 4 Multispectral drone. The visible and near-infrared light, which are typically filtered out by conventional cameras that only collect red, green, and blue wavelengths, can be captured by the DJI Phantom 4 Multispectral Drone.
Farmers will now be able to use this technology for tasks like assessing plant stress or spotting insect infestations early on so they can make adjustments in the growing process accordingly. This camera is said to provide a much clearer picture of crops.
Specification
| Brand | DJI |
| Model Name | Phantom 4 Multispectral |
| Special Feature | Ocusync Transmission; FlightAutonomy with Redundant Sensors |
| Age Range (Description) | 18 Years & Up |
| Color | White |
| Video Capture Resolution | 2160p |
DJI Phantom 4 RTK
Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology is used by the DJI Phantom 4 RTK drone. Precision farming and mapping applications are also possible with this kind of location. The drone can fly for up to 30 minutes, has a 7-kilometer operational range, and can take 20MP photos.
It’s an excellent drone for mapping and 3D modeling farms since it can deliver centimeter-level precision, which is useful for plant counting, crop height and density measurement, and crop health inspection.
Specification
| Voltage | 17.5 V |
|---|---|
| Operating Temperature Range | 41° to 104℉(5° to 40℃) |
| Capacity | 4920 mAh |
| Voltage | 7.6 V |
| Battery Type | LiPo 2S |
| Energy | 37.39 Wh |
| Operating Temperature | -4° to 104℉(-20° to 40℃) |
DJI Matrice 300 RTK
Due to its numerous payload capacities and RTK technology, which enables users to take incredibly detailed photos for precise maps and 3D models, the Matrice 300 RTK is appropriate for a wide range of sectors.
It boasts a sturdy construction that enables it to be flown in adverse weather situations, powerful AI capabilities, 6-directional obstacle detecting and avoidance, and an advanced health management system. It also has an industry-leading flying length of 55 minutes.
The drone is appropriate for mapping vast farms because of its extraordinarily long flight time, and thanks to its numerous payload possibilities, including those from third-party manufacturers, users will be able to take pictures for orthomosaic, thermal, and multispectral maps.
Specification
| Battery Capacity | 5935 mAh |
| Battery Type | LiPo 12S |
| Watt Hours | 274 Wh |
| Voltage | 52.8 V |
| Maximum Flight Time | 55 Minutes |
| Charging Temperature | -4 to 104°F (-20 to 40°C) |
| Operating Temperature | -4 to 122°F / -20 to 50°C |
DJI Agras T20
This drone was created specifically for spraying crops. It has a 20L capacity and a 15-minute maximum flying time (depending on the load). It has an improved spraying mechanism, 8 nozzles, and a spray width of 7 meters
. It can cover 12 hectares in an hour. The drone may be used for fertilizing, seeding, and spraying. It includes advanced obstacle avoidance technology for safer flight and was designed to fly in extreme weather situations. It can also be used during the day or night.
Farmers will be able to adjust the drone’s autonomous flying modes with centimeter-level accuracy using the RTK dongle on the remote controller and the built-in RTK technology, which allows for centimeter-level accuracy.
Specification
| Charge Type | Supports USB power fast charge adapters rated 12 V/2 A |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | 2S LiPo |
| Capacity | 4920 mAh |
| Voltage | 7.6 V |
| Energy | 37.39 Wh |
| Charging Temperature | 5° to 40°C |
| Model | Dji |
Conclusion
Drones are a reliable asset in the construction industry. From the articles listed here, we can see how much drones have been used; from surveying to mapping and site surveillance – drones have proven to be very useful in constructing buildings. Drones will make things easier for construction managers and surveyors; capturing data for maps, 3D models and inspections will be more effective with drones than without them. Not only will companies save money on labor expenses because of them – but if an area has rough terrain or is difficult to access, it would be much safer to use drones rather than humans.