{{Short description|Unmanned aerial vehicle}} [[File:Drone crop fertilizer.jpg|thumb|DJI Agras on trailer setup]] An '''agricultural drone''' is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used in agriculture operations, mostly in yield optimization by monitoring crop growth, aerial seeding and crop protection. Agricultural drones provide information on crop growth stages, crop health, and soil variations. Multispectral sensors are used on agricultural drones to image electromagnetic radiation beyond the visible spectrum, including near-infrared and short-wave infrared. Agricultural UAVs are often fitted with spray equipment for pesticide application.
==Legality== {{Main|Regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles}} As drones entered use in agriculture, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) encouraged farmers to use this new technology to monitor their fields. However, with the unexpected boom of agricultural drones, the FAA quickly retracted such encouragement, pending new rules and regulations. With incidents such as drones crashing into other agricultural aircraft, the FAA and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) began discussions to agree on regulations that would allow the beneficial use of such drones in a safe and efficient manner.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=July 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Rules for Commercial Use of UAS Released |url=https://www.agriculture.com/news/technology/final-rules-for-commercial-use-of-uas-released |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Successful Farming |language=en |first=Laurie |last=Bedord |date=June 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Agricultural Drones Need New Regulations to Take Off |url=https://www.calt.iastate.edu/article/agricultural-drones-need-new-regulations-take |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation |language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, the FAA published rules for commercial drone operations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 14. Aeronautics and Space, Chapter I. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Subchapter F. AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES, Part 107. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS|url=https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=pt14.2.107|url-status=live|website=ecfr.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221145353/http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=pt14.2.107 |archive-date=2016-12-21 }}</ref> These rules require that commercial drone operators pass a knowledge exam, register their aircraft, and fly in accordance with published restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Commercial Operations Branch – Part 107 UAS Operations|url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs800/afs820/part107_oper/|access-date=2020-07-28|website=www.faa.gov|language=en-us}}</ref> While satisfied overall with the rules, the American Farm Bureau Federation would like small adjustments to some of the restrictions that have been implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Runyon |first=Luke |last4=fit=150%2C150 |last5=external |date=2015-02-16 |title=What the FAA's new drone rules mean for farmers |url=https://flatlandkc.org/farm-field/faas-drone-rules-farmers/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Flatland |language=en-US}}</ref>
Many countries, such as India, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, have implemented laws regarding the use of drones. Such laws are still nonexistent in many countries around the world, and 15 countries have outlawed all drone operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title=No Flying Allowed: The 15 Countries Where Drones Are Banned |url=https://uavcoach.com/drone-bans/ |access-date=2020-07-28 |website=UAV Coach |first=Zacc |last=Dukowitz |language=en-US}}</ref> The EU plans to implement a common set of drone regulations for all of its members.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Civil drones (Unmanned aircraft)|url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/domains/civil-drones-rpas|access-date=2020-07-28|website=EASA|language=en}}</ref>
==Security and ethics== {{Further|Unmanned aerial vehicle#Safety}}The use of agricultural drones has ethical and social implications. One benefit is that they are able to monitor and control inputs as part of precision agriculture systems, that include minimizing the environmental impact of pesticides. However, in the USA, drones do not require permission to fly over another person's property at altitudes of under {{Convert|400|feet}}. They may have microphones and cameras attached, and the resulting concern for potential privacy violation has caused some opposition towards drones.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=April 2021}}.One other improvement with using drones is the precision that they operate with.
Other companies might start flying their drones in unregulated areas to survey their competition and the condition of their crops and agricultural yield.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=April 2021}}
==Future use== There is a large capacity for growth in the area of agricultural drones. With technology constantly improving, imaging of the crops will need to improve as well. With the data that drones record from the crops the farmers are able to analyze their crops and make educated decisions on how to proceed given the accurate crop information. Software programs for analyzing and correcting crop production<ref>{{Cite web |title=DJI SmartFarm |url=http://djismart.farm/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503015015/https://www.horusdynamics.com/vendita-droni/drone-prezzi/droni/dji-enterprise/dji-agras/ |archive-date=3 May 2024}}</ref> have the potential to grow in this market. Farmers will fly a drone over their crops, accurately identify an issue in a specific area, and take the necessary actions to correct the problem.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.droneaddicts.net/africa-farming-problems-aided-with-drone-technology/|title=Africa Farming Problems Aided With Drone Technology |date=2018-03-12|work=Drone Addicts|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US |first=James |last=Bernard |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629235733/https://www.droneaddicts.net/africa-farming-problems-aided-with-drone-technology/ |archivedate=2018-06-29}}</ref> This gives the farmer time to focus on the overall task of production instead of spending time surveying their crops. Additional uses include keeping track of livestock, surveying fences, and monitoring for plant pathogens.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Knowable Magazine |title=Eyes in the sky: 5 ways drones will change agriculture |last=Ehrenberg |first=Rachel|url=https://www.knowablemagazine.org/article/technology/2018/eyes-sky-5-ways-drones-will-change-agriculture |doi=10.1146/knowable-101118-3|language=en|year=2018 |s2cid=134431340 |doi-access= |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Both the purchase and maintenance costs of modern drones make them too expensive for small farms in developing nations. Pilot programs in Tanzania are focusing on minimizing those costs, producing agricultural drones simple and rugged enough to be repaired locally.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-02-10|title=Innovation in Africa: what next?|url=https://africatimes.com/2016/02/10/innovation-in-africa-what-next/|access-date=2020-12-28|website=Africa Times|language=en-US|archive-date=2016-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222070208/https://africatimes.com/2016/02/10/innovation-in-africa-what-next/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A research team from Washington State University has developed an automated drone system that deters pests like crows or European starlings from feeding on grapes and other crops. The birds could be scared off by the drone's noise, but researchers also could include distress calls and predatory bird noises.<ref>{{cite news |author=Washington State University |author-link=Washington State University |url=https://www.mbtmag.com/best-practices/news/22250198/drones-could-scare-birds-off-farm-fields |title=Drones Could Scare Birds Off Farm Fields |work=Manufacturing Business Technology |publisher=Industrial Media |date=2022-06-02 |accessdate=2022-06-02 }}</ref> ==See also== * Aerial seeding * Agricultural robot * Environmental monitoring * Mechanised agriculture * Precision agriculture * Delivery drone
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Chris |year=2014 |title=Agricultural Drones |journal=MIT Technology Review |volume=117 |issue=3 |pages=58–60 |url=https://cdn.technologyreview.com/s/526491/agricultural-drones/ |id={{ProQuest|1534143322}} }} *[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bring+in+the+drones%3a+flying+robots+could+be+a+valuable+tool+for+crop...-a0423047794 Bring in the drones: flying robots could be a valuable tool for crop surveillance.] (n.d.) The Free Library. (2014). Retrieved Sep 18 2016 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20151224224329/http://www.farmandranchguide.com/news/crop/farmers-and-ranchers-will-soar-with-agricultural-drones/article_f75aa1ea-edc0-11e4-9e5b-2f201d97d1e1.html Farmers and Ranchers Will Soar with Agricultural Drones.] (2015, April 28). Farm & Ranch Guide. Retrieved September 16, 2016 *{{cite press release |title=Global Market for agricultural drones is expected to reach $3.69 billion by 2022; Finds New Report |publisher=M2 |date=14 April 2016 |id={{ProQuest|1780742295}} }} *Hetterick, H., & Reese, M. (2013, May 1). Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2016, from http://ocj.com/2013/05/drones-can-be-positive-and-negative-for-the-ag-industry/ *Penhorwood, J. (2016, June 29). Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal. Retrieved September 25, 2016, from http://ocj.com/2016/06/drones-in-agriculture-ready-for-takeoff-with-new-faa-rules/ *{{cite press release |title=Worldwide Agricultural Drones Market Analysis and Forecasting Report |publisher=M2 |date=10 June 2016 |id={{ProQuest|1795453515}} }}
Category:Agricultural robotics Category:Agricultural revolutions drone Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles