Will these large drones replace helicopters for ag spraying?
Drones
- Thread starter scooter1954
- Start date
Yes and No, they all have their purpose and niche including the planes or as some call them air tractors. The technology is impressive on the productivity and work side of things.
Osoh
Osoh, on these larger drones, are they battery powered? How long are they able to stay airborne? I know one consideration of earlier drones was battery size and weight. A smaller, lighter battery made flight easier, but in turn, limited flight time capability.
Yes the great majority of the Ag drones are battery, they are about the size of a mid size car battery, every field will be different as far as efficiency for example is the amount of wasted air time from the loading area to back to where you left off. Usually when I see the tank or battery capacity will not make another full round I will bring it in and swap batteries and refill, but only to what level matches the battery usage for a full efficient run. The average performance floats in the 44 to 60 acres per hour when spraying micro nutrients at 2.1 gallons per acre on corn or soybeans. Our drone has a 32' width spray pattern and we average about 25 to 28 mph spraying and the Daytona style pit stops happen about every 6 minutes. We have three batteries total on deck and the high output generator/ battery charger system that will keep up with the demand needed unless you forget to change batteries in the charger. When loaded and heading out the drone is just under 200 lbs and sounds like a mini helicopter. I told many that it has a sound of authority and respect versus the small DJI Mavic stuff. Never thought at my age I would be doing this but I am intrigued by the technology.
Edit note to add here - my numbers are spot on or very close to what we seen, I did not go back in the records to look but I'm very confident that a good representation is shown, a example I want to say is the battery charger is very impressive thinking it takes about 5 minutes to bring a battery up from 16% to 100% but hesitated I know it keeps up as long as you change the charged one out with the battery waiting in line. As I said we run 3 batteries - one in the drone one on deck either charged or waiting to be and one in the charger in which has high speed cooling fans running to cool battery while in the charger.
Acres per hour all matters on field size but the numbers are real close and 2.1 gallons per acres is a good rate for many of the operation's.
Osoh
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So, due to speed, pumps draining power, and weight, you must change out batteries every 6 minutes, did I get that right? Wow, more frquently than I imagined. But still, less expensive and more efficient than a crop dusting airplane or helo! And kudos to you for being open minded and accepting of new technology!
Yes +/-
Its seems often but you are getting a lot done, we use a 2" high volume and low pressure flow filling system so we can fill the tank without fighting a foam effect about as fast as a person changing out the battery. It seems like seconds but probably a couple minutes and it heading back up and out.
Osoh
I understand that there is several great places in Wyoming! The only thing is my son is in Montana, and I have business there too. My wife wants to close because of grand kids. It's fun to watch them play and grow up. Most of my reloading gear is in Montana. I sure as hell don't keep them in Calif.
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They used two drones on my friends ranch to spray for Sticky Gum that had infested a hay field. A small one flew the area and videoed it . The large one sprayed the area using a computer program and a GPS.
Using a four wheeler would have taken two days. The drones took less than eight hours.
In Montana it is illegal to hunt the same day you or anyone in your party has flown a drone. Same laws as states having laws against hunting the same day you fly in an actual aircraft.
Yes, wildlife can be herded or pushed to almost any location with drones.
Some ranches are using them to locate, round up and move cattle with excellent efficiency. 1 drone in 1/2 day can do the work of 5-7 cowboys in a full day and without missing a single cow/calf pair.
Yes, wildlife can be herded or pushed to almost any location with drones.
Some ranches are using them to locate, round up and move cattle with excellent efficiency. 1 drone in 1/2 day can do the work of 5-7 cowboys in a full day and without missing a single cow/calf pair.
