Arc Drone Solutions uses the DJI Agras T50.

Highlights:

• Agricultural Use: Specifically designed for tasks like crop spraying, spreading fertilizers, and surveying.

• AI-Powered: Equipped with AI and vision sensors for precise operations. Omnidirectional radars provide 360° scan for obstacles.

• High-precision Spraying: Ensures accurate spraying of pesticides and fertilizers with minimal waste. 10.5-gallon liquid tank. 4 spray nozzles (adjustable rate and droplet size), 36-foot swath.

• Autonomous Flight: Supports autonomous flight paths for spraying and surveying. GPS and RTK-enabled.

• Multispectral Imaging: Compatible with multispectral cameras for crop health monitoring. HD camera.

• Large Coverage Area: Ideal for covering large agricultural fields with increased payload capacity and larger spraying width. Range up to 3.1 miles

• Efficient Battery Life: Optimized battery management system for extended flight time.

• Weather Resistant: Built to handle challenging weather conditions like wind and rain, with a IP67 rating.

In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates commercial drone use, setting rules on flight altitude, no-fly zones, and pilot certification. Recreational drones do not require a license, however, a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is for commercial, government and other non-recreational use. Additionally, the drone(s) must be registered and have a N-number with the FAA. For commercial spraying, a Part 137 Certificate is required in addition to a Commercial Applicators License, other special exemptions are needed for drones over 55 lbs and night operation. These regulations and license requirements ensure safe and legal operation of the drone.

Drones can capture large amounts of data, and there are specialized software platforms for analyzing this data. Drones can be used to create 3D maps, generate topographical models, monitor crop health, or inspect infrastructure.

Different types of drone imaging:

• Optical Cameras (RGB): Captures high-resolution images and videos.

• Infrared Cameras (IR)/Thermal Imaging: Detects heat signature.

• Multispectral Cameras: Captures data across multiple wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum.

• LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): Uses laser pulses to measure distances to the ground and create highly accurate 3D models of landscapes.

Reporting Capabilities:

• Aerial Images or Videos

• Orthomosaic Maps

• 3D Models and Point Clouds

• Thermal Imaging Reports

• NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) Reports

• Crop Pest Detection

• Surveying and Topographic Reports (Elevation maps, Drainage, etc.)

• Inspection and Maintenance Reports

• Stockpile Volume and Aerial Measurements

For decades, airplanes have been used for ag spraying in situations where a ground rig is not practical. Drones can accomplish the same aerial approach, with several advantages, making this technology the way of the future.

Less Waste: Drones offer a more precise approach to spraying, eliminating overspray and application to areas that do not need treatment. Battery operation and no return trips to an airport also means a more eco friendly operation.

Safety: Drones are unmanned, small, highly maneuverable and programmed to detect obstacles. Airplanes rely significantly on the pilot to observe physical obstructions, such as powerlines, which is the most common cause of crashes.

Performance: Less waste, and more safety sounds great - but do drones get the job done as well as airplanes? Studies have shown yield on drone sprayed fields to be equal to or greater than fields sprayed by airplanes. With drones, spray application to field edges is significantly more accurate, resulting in more consistent coverage to end rows while minimizing spray drift.

Time: A single T50 drone (35ft swath) can cover an 80 acre field in less than two hours. Two T50 drones, less than one. Airplanes (65 ft swath) can spray an 80 in around 45 minutes.