Drones can be cost-effective and provide numerous benefits for farmers when applied correctly.
There are a few distinctly different types of drones, each with a specific purpose in agriculture. Compare these types of drones to find the best drone for you.
Rotor Drones
Specifications: Short flight time, approximately 30 minute flight time, 20MP camera capable of shooting 4K video, obstacle sensing, dedicated controller, several flight modes, navigates in 25-35 mph winds, affordable option for getting a birds’ eye view
Applications: These drones are best used for aerial photography, quick crop scouting and identifying problem areas within a field.
Fixed-Wing Drones
Specifications: approximately 45 minute flight time spanning up to 400 acres, two 18 megapixel cameras, a self-calibrating solar sensor, navigates in wind up to 20 mph, flies like an airplane, safe launch/soft landing
Applications: These drones are typically used for mapping and can easily integrate with farm management software.
Spray Drones
Specifications: 15 minute flight time (or 1.5 acres), 40-60% faster than manual spraying, 2.5 gallon tank
Applications: Spray drones are designed for precision application. Although they are not meant to be used across large areas, spray drones are perfect for spot spraying. These drones utilize cloud storage technology which can prove problematic for farmers who don’t have access to great high-speed internet.
Learn more in our recent blog, Considerations before flying a UAV
