The introduction of intelligent technologies in modern agriculture
Agriculture techniques have included an increasing variety of technology to boost crop output and lower operating costs in order to meet the increasing food demands of a growing human population. This development has prompted the use of so-called “smart technologies,” such as automated machinery and artificial intelligence, in many aspects of food production, from crop planting and animal protection to food processing and transportation.
Precision agriculture, also known as precision farming, describes how farmers manage crops to maximize productivity, quality, and yield while ensuring the effectiveness of inputs like water and fertilizer. The phrase also refers to reducing sickness, unwelcome inundation, and pests.
Drones enable farmers to continuously monitor crop and livestock status from the air, instantly identifying issues that would not be seen during spot checks at ground level. For instance, time-lapse drone photography may reveal to a farmer that some of his or her crop is not receiving adequate irrigation.
Farming drone technology
Mapping/Surveying
It is a reasonably simple operation to map or survey crops using a drone. The user can create a circle around the area they need to cover using the flight planning software that comes with many more modern agricultural drone models. The software then creates an autonomous flying path and, in certain situations, even gets ready to take pictures with the cameras.
The drone autonomously captures images as it flies using onboard sensors and the built-in camera, timing each shot using GPS. However, if your drone lacks these automatic features, one person will need to fly it while the other shoots pictures.
According to Global Market Insights, 200,000 drones will have been shipped by 2024, and the market for agricultural drones will be worth more than $1 billion. GMI credits the growth through 2024 to farmers becoming more aware of the advantages and disadvantages of drones in agriculture.
Cropdusting/Spraying
The Yamaha RMAX became the first drone to weigh more than 55 pounds to carry tanks of fertilizer and pesticides for spraying farms after the Federal Aviation Administration granted its approval in 2015. This kind of drone can spray crops far more precisely than a conventional tractor can. This saves money and perhaps exposes workers to pesticides who would have otherwise had to physically spray those crops.
Future of Agriculture Drones
By 2021, Insider Intelligence projects that the global drone market will have generated more than $12 billion in sales. But what precisely about the market for drones used in agriculture?
According to Global Market Insights, 200,000 drones will have been shipped by 2024, and the market for agricultural drones will be worth more than $1 billion. GMI credits the growth through 2024 to farmers becoming more aware of the advantages and disadvantages of drones in agriculture.
The company further asserts that during the anticipated period, technological developments in farming methods will drive demand. A labor shortage and a lack of skilled workers will lead to increased automation, which will increase demand for agricultural drones. Finally, GMI anticipates that government projects in this area will allow for operations of various sizes to contribute to the improvement of farming practices.
Drone AG, a firm that develops drones and has incorporated several software applications, had this as its goal. In addition to crop spraying drones and multispectral mapping drones, their models now include a crop scouting system that works with mobile users. Such advancements will increase the effectiveness of drones and give farmers more tools to preserve food security in a world that is changing quickly.
Contact us at www.droneagdata.com to learn more about the challenges associated with using drones and other agricultural technologies.
Sources:
In addition to M. Ayamga, B. Tekinerdogan, A. Kassahun, and G. Rambaldi, (2020). creating a legal framework to govern the use of drones in agriculture in Africa. 33(8), 970-987, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management. doi: 10.1080/09537325.2020.1858047
De Vito, L., Glielmo, L., Iannelli, L., D. Liuzza, F. Picariello, & G. Silano; Daponte; P. (2019). An analysis of drone use in precision agriculture. Conference on IOP