The agricultural sector is witnessing a transformative shift with the increasing presence of drones, boasting impressive flight endurance and payload capacities. Leading this innovation is Brazilian company Agrobee, which recently unveiled its new VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drone, the VTOL Agrobee 200, at Agrishow 2024, Brazil’s premier agricultural technology event. This state-of-the-art drone, capable of carrying up to 900 litres of pesticides, has captured significant attention for its potential to revolutionise agricultural practices.
The VTOL Agrobee 200 stands out for its versatility, allowing vertical liftoff and landing, and its ability to operate at low speeds, making it highly adaptable for various agricultural tasks. With a flight endurance of up to 1 hour and 20 minutes and the capacity to carry payloads of up to 200 kg of pesticides, the Agrobee 200 is designed for efficiency and extended operational periods. During Agrishow 2024, Agrobee achieved notable success, selling 50 units of the VTOL Agrobee 200, underscoring the strong market demand for such advanced agricultural technology.
A key feature of the VTOL Agrobee 200 is its innovative small flex engine, which can run on ethanol, diesel, or gasoline. This engine powers a battery, significantly extending flight times and allowing the drone to cover up to 380 hectares per day. Remarkably, the drone can operate nearly continuously with brief, five-minute refuelling intervals. Agrobee is also planning to expand its product line with two additional drone models, featuring capacities of 100 and 900 litres of pesticides, respectively.
The growing presence of drones in agriculture is not limited to Brazil. In the United States, Guardian Agriculture has pioneered the use of autonomous electric VTOL drones for agricultural applications. The company commenced commercial operations last season, becoming the first to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for commercial eVTOL services in the US. Operating primarily in California’s Salinas Valley, Guardian’s SC1 drone is optimized for automated spraying and seeding, carrying up to 200 pounds (90.7 kg) of liquid payload and covering approximately 40 acres (16.19 hectares) per hour.
Meanwhile, US manufacturer Pyka has also received FAA approval to conduct commercial operations nationwide with its autonomous crop spraying aircraft, the Pelican. Weighing 1,125 lbs (510 kgs), the Pelican is the largest electric unmanned aerial system (UAS) ever authorized by the FAA for commercial use in the US. Pyka asserts that the Pelican enhances spray precision, reduces chemical costs, and minimizes environmental impact. The Pelican, operational across farms in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Brazil, can carry up to 540 lbs (245 kgs) or 70 gallons (265 litres) of liquid and cover up to 240 acres per hour.
Efficiency in drone operations is further enhanced by the concept of drone swarms. US company Hylio has achieved a significant milestone with its recent FAA approval, marking it as the first US company authorized to operate large drone swarms. This approval permits Hylio to oversee up to three drones, each weighing over 55 pounds, with a single pilot and without a visual observer. Hylio’s Co-Founder and CEO, Arthur Erickson, sees this as a pivotal moment, paving the way for increased efficiency in agricultural practices. With three drones potentially covering close to 100 to 120 acres (41 to 49 hectares) per hour, the efficiency gains are substantial.
The adoption of drones in US agriculture has surged in recent years, with the FAA actively working on establishing standardized operational rules to make drone usage routine, scalable, and economically feasible. Companies like Case IH, in collaboration with XAG, are also entering the market, targeting small and medium-sized farmers with VTOL drone models offering capacities of 30 and 70 litres. These drones are designed to supplement or replace traditional sprayers, ensuring high-quality application with uniform droplet distribution and effective penetration into the plant canopy.
The rapid evolution of drone technology in agriculture marks a profound shift towards efficiency, precision, and sustainability. As regulatory frameworks continue to adapt and industry leaders invest in advancing drone capabilities, the trajectory points towards a future where drones are indispensable tools in modern agriculture.