2. CONTENTS
Introduction
History of Drones
Components
Use of Drones in Agriculture
Parameters
Advantages
Disadvantages
Conclusion
2
3. INTRODUCTION
An Agricultural drones is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
used to help optimize agricultural operations, increase
crop production and monitor crop growth.
Aerial view provided by a drone gives information on
growth stages of crops, health monitoring and soil
variations in real time helping in any mitigation if
required.
3
4. HISTORY OF DRONES
• In 1921, USDA in collaboration with US Army
developed UAV for crop dusting at McCook field
(Dayton).
• In 1939 – The Royal New Zealand Air Force assisted
with spread of seeds mixed with fertilizers.
• 1960 – Nikola Tesla induced radio waves in 1898
which pay the way for developing RC airplanes – with
this RC planes + transistor technology = scientists
developed fly model planes.
4
5. History contd…
• 1974 – Abraham Karem built the first fully functional
agrl. Drones in Israel considered as founder of Drone
Technology.
• 1985 – Thurling used camera fixed in a drone for taking
vertical images of weeds in oilseed crops.
• 1992 – Dr. Anders Larsolle used the drones for studying late
blight in potato.
• 1993- drones used for monitoring climate and
environmental conditions in USA.
5
7. COMPONENTS
BLDC motor
Battery – 2 LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries consists of six
cells 8000 mAh are connected parallel to provide power
supply.
Flight controller with GPS antenna
Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
FPV cameras
Sensors
Fluid tank
7
8. Contd…
Aluminium pipe – bent in U shape – make support in
which fluid tank, motor and spray lance are mounted.
Four nozzles (Flat Fan nozzles) are fixed on 1.3m length
spray boom.
12 volts DC motor with pump – generate pressure to
spray fluid
Landing gears – at bottom- provide safe take off and
landing on ground surface
8
11. USE OF DRONES IN
AGRICULTURE
Soil and Field Analysis
Planting
Crop spraying
Crop monitoring
Irrigation
Health Assessment
Pollination
Field mapping
11
12. Soil and Field Analysis
They produce precise 3D images for early soil analysis,
useful in planning seed planting patterns.
After planting, drone driven soil analysis provides data for
irrigation and nitrogen level management.
12
13. PLANTING
Automated drone seeders are mostly being used in
forestry industries.
Planting with drones means very hard to reach areas can
be replanted without endangering workers.
Reduces the planting cost by 75 percent.
13
14. CROP SPRAYING
Crop spraying drones can carry large liquid storage
reservoirs, can be operated more safely.
It can be operated and maintained at a fraction of the cost
compared to crop dusters.
Increased efficiency with a reduction of in the amount of
pesticides.
Covers large area in limited time.
14
15. CROP MONITORING
Vast fields and low efficiency in monitoring together
create farming’s largest obstacles.
Monitoring challenges are exacerbated by increasingly
unpredictable weather, which drive risks and field
maintenance costs.
15
16. IRRIGATION
Using microwave sensing, drones are able to capture
very accurate dry places of fields.
Water can be distributed in a field in most efficient
way in an effort to conserve resources.
16
17. HEALTH ASSESSMENT
It’s essential to asses the crop health in terms of pest
and diseases.
By scanning a crop using drones we can know about
the damaged symptoms.
A speedy recovery can be done as soon as problem is
identified.
17
18. POLLINATION
Researchers in netherland and Japan are developing
small drones that are capable of pollinating without
damaging them.
In future, there will be autonomous pollinating drones
that will work and monitor the crops without constant
instruction from operator.
18
19. FIELD MAPPING
Drones provides accurate field mapping.
Having information on field evaluation is useful in
determining drainage patterns and dry/wet spots which
allow for more efficient watering techniques.
19
20. PARAMETERS
Model 10 liters 15 liters
Transportation size 600 x 600 x 800 (cm) 600 x 600 x 800 (cm)
Weight (without battery) 10 kg 13 kg
Propeller size 3010 3010
Operation speed (m/s) 4 – 8 4 – 8
Max. speed (m/s) 20 20
Max. payload (kg) 10 15
Taking off weight (kg) 23 32
Spraying width (m) 4 – 6 4 – 6
Single operation time (min) 8 8
Working efficiency (ha/hr) 2.4 6
20
21. ADVANTAGES
It provide good ROI (Return On Investment)
Drones are used in large scale farming for spraying
insecticides due to its remote control operation from
distance.
Helps in monitoring environmental data which helps in
smart farming.
Helps farmers in scouting their fields quickly and
efficiently.
21
22. Contd…
They are easy to use with very basic training.
It has GIS mapping. It helps in storing and analyzing
all types of geographical and spatial data.
Thermal cameras help in finding wet and dry patches.
This help farmers avoid wastage of water.
22
23. DISADVANTAGES
Most of the drones have less flight time and covers less
area. Drones having long flight time and long range are
costlier.
Need to obtain government clearance in order to use it.
It may interfere with other aircrafts or birds if it comes
in their flying path.
It is difficult to fly them in extreme conditions.
23
24. CONCLUSION
Drones have already vastly altered the agriculture and
will continue to grow in the coming years. While the
drones use is becoming more useful to farmers, there is
still a ways to go before they become part of every
farmers equipments, particularly in developing nations.
As there is some disadvantages the drone technology is
the best scientific tools for agricultural industry to
undergo various operations
24
