A brief history of agricultural aviation: From fixed-wing to heavy-duty aircraft
The earliest record of a fixed-wing aircraft used in agricultural aviation was in 1921 in Ohio. These aircraft were ideal for the tasks at hand like surveying, mapping, and crop dusting. However, they had their shortcomings. Not only did they have a limited payload, but they were not very agile, restricting their capabilities and were best suited for small farming operations. It was time for a new drone to come into the picture.
Small drones began to gain popularity due to the various practical functions they provided. They allowed greater flexibility for farmers while increasing the quality of their farming productions. They were more versatile and able to perform tasks like real-time surveillance, mapping, precise irrigation and localized spraying. They did not require landing and take-off infrastructure, further facilitating their use. Even though they were a significant step forward, these small drones were unable to carry a heavy payload (no more than 90kg) and had a limited range (no more than 50km). They were also only fit for small scale farming operations.
Imagine using all the benefits the drones provide, while increasing their range and payload. Entering the new era of heavy-duty drones, agriculture takes another innovative leap. Answering prior limitations posed by earlier drone technologies while redefining agricultural aviation. As a larger aircraft, it has a weight-carrying capacity of up to 200kg and can cover distances of 500km.
Additionally, they can carry more seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers in one flight. With greater efficiency, they can accomplish the task at hand with greater speed while reducing harmful effects to the environment.
Why drones are essential in agriculture
Think of doing the same job in one hour instead of one day. Along with feeding an ever-growing population, this is exactly why drones are invaluable in agriculture, with many additional benefits. By being extremely efficient in the use of the existing cropland, 27.4 million acres of land are saved from turning into farmland, making the most out of existing farmland. When traditional means of farming are used instead of aviation technology, about 25% of yield production can be lost, highlighting the importance of pesticide efficiency, accuracy, and productivity, which heavy-duty drones offer.
The yield benefits the aircraft provides are as vast as all the land it can cover. By using targeted spraying, sensors, and AI, it can identify what crop needs to be sprayed, in which quantity, and it can apply it in various weather conditions. By being so precise in its spraying application, chemical usage can be reduced by 30%.Aerial spray is also able to reach areas of cropland that are usually hard to access, while preventing runoff of topsoil.
Additionally, due to the very structure of aerial aviation, no ground rigs are needed, so no crops are harmed in the process. All these benefits give farmers the flexibility and peace of mind that their crops are taken care of and will yield the best results.
The current challenges
Challenges exist with every new technology. So, while there are many advantages and benefits brought by the fourth agricultural revolution, challenges remain.
First, it is a costly investment up front, which could prevent numerous farmers from making the purchase. Further, with new technologies, new regulations must be made to ensure safety standards are established and responsible use is followed. This includes protocols that must be put in place and the need for skilled operators licensed to fly VTOLs. However, with enough time and regulations settled, these challenges should be minimized, making the VTOLs significantly more accessible and affordable.
NEX steps
Over the last 10 years, the use of drones in the agricultural sphere has increased, drastically transforming the agricultural landscape for the better. From its origins in performing functions such as mapping, crop dusting, and surveillance, the revolution has led to heavy-duty drones becoming a power tool of precise spraying and data collection to grow the best possible crops.
Now, with hydrogen fuel coming into play, agricultural drones are expected to grow even more in popularity. Companies such as NEX Aero, who are leading in hydrogen-powered, heavy-duty drones, exemplify the transformative potential currently underway of this new generation of drones.
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