Introduction to Drone Technology

What is a Drone?

A drone, also known as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), is an aircraft that can fly without a human pilot onboard. It is controlled either remotely by an operator or automatically using GPS-based navigation. Agricultural drones are specially designed to perform farming activities such as spraying, monitoring, and mapping fields.

Types of Drones Used in Agriculture

1. Multirotor Drones – Most common for farming; used for spraying, monitoring, and small-area mapping.
2. Fixed-Wing Drones – Fly like airplanes; ideal for large-scale field mapping.
3. Hybrid (VTOL) Drones – Combine both multirotor and fixed-wing benefits; take off vertically and cover long distances.

Each type is selected based on field size, crop type, and required operation.

Basics of Flight Principles

Drones fly using the principles of:

• Lift – Generated by propellers to help the drone rise.
• Thrust – Moves the drone forward.
• Weight – Pulls the drone downward due to gravity.
• Drag – Air resistance during flight.
  The flight controller continuously balances these forces to keep the drone stable and controlled.

Applications: Spraying, Monitoring, Mapping

• Spraying: Drones spray pesticides, fertilizers, and nutrients uniformly across crops, reducing time and chemical usage.
• Monitoring: Using cameras and sensors, drones capture crop images to detect plant health, pests, water needs, and growth patterns.
• Mapping: High-quality aerial photos are stitched to create farm maps for planning irrigation, fertilizer use, and damage assessment.

Advantages of Drones in Modern Farming

• Saves time and labor by covering large fields quickly.
• Reduces chemical exposure for farmers.
• Uses less water and spray material, improving efficiency.
• Improves crop health through precise monitoring.
• Works in tough terrains where manual work is difficult.