1. Introduction to Kisan Drone Operations
Overview of drones in agriculture
Role and responsibilities of a Kisan Drone Operator
Types of agricultural drones
Benefits of drone-based farm operations (spraying, mapping, monitoring)
2. Basic Drone Technology
Parts of a drone (frame, motors, ESC, propellers, GPS, IMU, flight controller)
Types of batteries and charging safety
Payload systems and sprayer mechanism
Sensors used in agriculture (RGB, multispectral)
3. DGCA Rules & Drone Regulations
Categories of drones (Nano, Micro, Small, Medium)
UIN (Unique Identification Number)
UAOP (Operator Permit) / Digital Sky platform
No-fly zones and airspace restrictions
Safety guidelines and compliance procedures
4. Pre-Flight Preparation
Site assessment and field layout
Drone inspection checklist
Battery check, propeller check, payload check
Understanding weather conditions
Mission planning using flight apps
5. Basic Flying Skills
Manual and autonomous flying
Takeoff and landing procedures
Hovering, directional control, altitude management
Emergency landing exercises
Using remote controller & mobile app/ground control software
6. Advanced Drone Operations
GPS mission planning
Waypoint navigation
Automated spraying routes
Obstacle detection and avoidance
Return-to-Home (RTH) functions
7. Agricultural Spraying Operations
Types of pesticides, fertilizers, and their spray requirements
Tank filling, mixing, calibration, and dosage control
Nozzle selection and spray droplet control
Drift management and safety gear
Field coverage calculation and spray efficiency
8. Crop Monitoring & Mapping
Basics of aerial imaging
Creating field maps
NDVI / multispectral data basics
Assessing crop health, plant stress & water needs
Generating reports and farmer communication
9. Maintenance of Drones
Routine cleaning & servicing
Battery maintenance and storage
Propeller balancing and replacement
Troubleshooting common technical issues
Drone logbook management
10. Safety, Risk Management & Emergency Handling
Pre-flight and post-flight checklists
Chemical handling and PPE
Weather considerations
Fail-safe systems
Managing mid-air failures, signal loss, battery failure
11. Simulator Training
Virtual flight practice
Manual control exercises
Automated mission simulations
Emergency drills using simulator
12. Soft Skills & Professional Skills
Communication with farmers
Recordkeeping and reporting
Customer service and field demonstration
Entrepreneurship opportunities in agri-drone services
13. Assessment & Certification
Practical flying test
Theory exam (safety, technology, spraying)
Troubleshooting assessment
Logbook and documentation verification
Frame: The frame is the main structure of the drone that holds all components together. Agricultural drones usually have strong carbon-fiber or aluminum frames to support heavy spray tanks.
Motors: Brushless DC motors rotate the propellers and generate lift. More motors provide better stability and load-carrying capacity (e.g., quadcopter, hexacopter, octacopter).
ESC (Electronic Speed Controller): ESCs control motor speed. They receive signals from the flight controller and adjust power to each motor for stable flight.
Propellers: Propellers push air downward to lift the drone. Agricultural drones use large, durable propellers to handle heavy spray payloads.
Flight Controller, GPS, IMU, Compass
Flight Controller (FC): The “brain” of the drone. It manages balance, stability, speed, and direction using sensor data.
GPS: The GPS module provides location accuracy, enabling autonomous flight, waypoint missions, and Return-to-Home (RTH).
IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): Consists of a gyroscope + accelerometer. It detects the drone’s tilt, rotation, and movement for stable flying.
Compass: Helps the drone know its direction. It works with GPS to enable precise navigation.
Drone Batteries: Types, Charging & Safety
Types: Most drones use Li-Po (Lithium-Polymer) batteries because they provide high power and low weight.
Charging:
Use only certified chargers
Balance charging is required
Batteries should never be overcharged
Safety:
Store at 50–60% charge
Avoid damage, swelling, or overheating
Do not charge near flammable items
Allow battery to cool before recharging
Payload System: Spray Tank, Pump & Nozzles
Spray Tank: Holds liquid pesticides, fertilizers, or nutrients. Capacity ranges from 5L to 25L depending on drone size.
Pump: The spray pump pushes liquid from the tank to the nozzles. High-pressure pumps ensure consistent spray output.
Nozzles: Nozzles convert liquid into fine droplets. Different nozzle types help control droplet size, spray width, and coverage.
Sensors: RGB & Multispectral Cameras
RGB Camera: A normal color camera used for:
Crop photography
Field inspection
Creating 2D maps
Multispectral Camera: Captures data beyond normal vision (Red, Green, Blue + Near Infrared). Used for:
Crop health monitoring
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
Identifying plant stress, pest attack, nutrient deficiency
