Employing Drones in Agriculture: An Exploration

of Various Drone Types and Key Advantages

1st Eduardo Carvalho Nunes
Department of Engineering
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
ORCID: 0000-0002-5345-8854
arXiv:2307.04037v2 [cs.RO] 11 Jul 2023

Abstract—This article explores the use of drones in agri- sects, reduce water pollution, and optimize resource utilization
culture and discusses the various types of drones employed [25].
for different agricultural applications. Drones, also known as
Furthermore, drones offer accessibility to inaccessible or
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offer numerous advantages in
farming practices. They provide real-time and high-resolution inaccessible areas by traditional means [10]. They can fly
data collection, enabling farmers to make informed irrigation, at low altitudes and capture data from different angles and
fertilization, and pest management decisions. Drones assist in pre- perspectives, providing a comprehensive view of the field [10].
cision spraying and application of agricultural inputs, minimizing This enables farmers to monitor large farmland areas quickly
chemical wastage and optimizing resource utilization. They offer
and efficiently, reducing the time and labor required for manual
accessibility to inaccessible areas, reduce manual labor, and
provide cost savings and increased operational efficiency. Drones inspections [1]. Drones can cover large farmland areas in a
also play a crucial role in mapping and surveying agricultural fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods,
fields, aiding crop planning and resource allocation. However, leading to cost savings and increased operational efficiency
challenges such as regulations and limited flight time need to be [1].
addressed. The advantages of using drones in agriculture include
precision agriculture, cost and time savings, improved data
In addition to data collection and monitoring, drones can
collection and analysis, enhanced crop management, accessibility assist in mapping and surveying agricultural fields. They
and flexibility, environmental sustainability, and increased safety can create high-resolution maps and 3D models, providing
for farmers. Overall, drones have the potential to revolutionize valuable information for crop planning, land management, and
farming practices, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, resource allocation. Drones equipped with advanced sensors,
and sustainability in agriculture.
such as LiDAR or hyperspectral cameras, can capture detailed
Index Terms—Drone, Agriculture, UAV
data for precise analysis and decision-making [3]. This enables
farmers to identify areas of nutrient deficiencies, optimize
I. I NTRODUCTION
irrigation practices, and implement site-specific management
The use of drones in agriculture has gained significant strategies. The use of drones in agriculture is challenging.
attention in recent years due to their potential to revolutionize Regulations and licensing requirements for drone operation
farming practices. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vary across countries and regions, and compliance with these
vehicles (UAVs), offer a range of applications that can enhance regulations is essential to ensure safe and responsible drone
efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture. use [7]. Additionally, drones’ limited flight time and battery
One of the key advantages of using drones in agriculture capacity can pose challenges in large-scale farming operations
is their ability to provide real-time and high-resolution data [4]. However, advancements in drone technology, such as
collection [1]. Drones equipped with cameras, sensors, and improved battery life and payload capacity, are addressing
imaging technologies can capture detailed imagery of crops, these limitations and expanding the possibilities for drone
soil conditions, and field topography [3]. This data can be used applications in agriculture.
for crop monitoring, assessment, and precision agriculture
practices [25]. By analyzing this data, farmers can make II. D IFFERENT T YPES OF D RONES USED IN AGRICULTURE
informed decisions regarding irrigation, fertilization, and pest
management, leading to optimized resource utilization and In agriculture, different types of drones are used for vari-
improved crop yields [4]. ous applications. These drones offer unique capabilities and
Drones also play a crucial role in precision spraying and functionalities that cater to specific agricultural needs. Some
application of agricultural inputs [25]. With their ability to of the commonly used types of drones in agriculture include:
navigate through fields and deliver targeted treatments, drones • Multi-Rotor Drones: Multi-rotor drones (Figure 1), such
can reduce chemical wastage, minimize environmental impact, as quadcopters and hexacopters, are popular in agricul-
and improve the efficiency of pesticide and fertilizer applica- ture due to their maneuverability and stability [1]. They
tion [25]. This targeted approach helps protect beneficial in- are equipped with multiple rotors that allow them to
 hover in place, fly at low altitudes, and capture high-
resolution imagery. Multi-rotor drones are suitable for
tasks that require close and contained object capture, such
as monitoring crop health, detecting pests and diseases,
and applying targeted treatments [4].

Fig. 3. Example Hybrid Drone - Quantum Systems Trinity F90+ eVTOL

Fixed-Wing UAV

irrigation issues, and identify areas of heat stress or

pest infestation [6]. Thermal imaging drones can provide
valuable insights into the temperature distribution and
thermal patterns in agricultural fields, aiding precision
agriculture practices.

Fig. 1. Example Multi-Rotor Drone - DJI Matrice 300 RTK

• Fixed-Wing Drones: Fixed-wing drones (Figure 2) have

a wing-like structure and are designed to fly like airplanes
[8]. They are known for their long-flight endurance
and ability to cover large areas. Fixed-wing drones are
commonly used for mapping and surveying agricultural
fields, as they can fly faster and cover more considerable
distances. However, they require a runway for takeoff and
landing, which can be a limitation in specific agricultural
settings.

Fig. 4. Example Hybrid Drone - DJI Zenmuse XT2

• Spraying Drones: Spraying drones (Figure 5), also

known as agricultural drones or crop dusting drones,
Fig. 2. Example Fixed-Wing Drone - Autel Dragonfish are specifically designed for the targeted application of
pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs [14].
• Hybrid Drones: Hybrid drones (Figure 3) combine the These drones are equipped with spraying systems that
features of multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones [9]. They can accurately and efficiently deliver chemicals to crops,
can take off and land vertically like multi-rotor drones reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing
and then transition to fixed-wing flight for longer en- chemical wastage [11]. Spraying drones offer precise and
durance and coverage [9]. Hybrid drones are suitable for controlled applications, reducing environmental impact
applications that require both close-range imaging and and optimizing resource utilization.
large-scale mapping, providing flexibility and versatility • Surveillance Drones: Surveillance drones (Figure 6) are
in agricultural operations. used in agriculture for monitoring and security purposes
• Thermal Imaging Drones: Thermal imaging drones [2]. These drones are equipped with cameras and sen-
(Figure 4) are equipped with thermal cameras that capture sors that capture real-time video footage and imagery,
infrared radiation emitted by objects [2]. These drones allowing farmers to monitor their fields, livestock, and
are used in agriculture to monitor crop health, detect infrastructure remotely [5]. Surveillance drones can help
 Fig. 7. Example Mapping Drone - DJI Phantom 4 RTK

sors for monitoring soil moisture levels, detecting weed

Fig. 5. Example Spraying Drone - DJI Agras T16 infestations, or assessing plant growth parameters [13].
These payload-specific drones (Figure 8) cater to specific
data collection needs in agriculture.
detect unauthorized activities, track animal movements,
and identify potential threats or risks in agricultural
operations.

Fig. 8. Example Payload-Specific Drone - DJI Matrice 210 RTK

III. A DVANTAGES OF USING D RONES IN AGRICULTURE

Fig. 6. Example Surveillance Drone - Autel EVO II
Using drones in agriculture offers several advantages con-
• Mapping and Surveying Drones: Mapping and survey- tributing to improved efficiency, productivity, and sustainabil-
ing drones (Figrue 7) are used to create high-resolution ity in agricultural practices. The advantages of using drones
maps and 3D models of agricultural fields [3]. These in farming are:
drones have advanced sensors, such as LiDAR (Light • Precision Agriculture: Drones enable precision agri-
Detection and Ranging) or photogrammetry cameras, to culture practices by providing high-resolution imagery
capture detailed and accurate data [3]. Mapping and sur- and data collection capabilities [16]. They can capture
veying drones are valuable tools for precision agriculture, detailed information about crop health, soil conditions,
enabling farmers to analyze topography, monitor soil and pest infestations, allowing farmers to make informed
conditions, and plan efficient land management strategies. decisions and apply targeted treatments [1]. This preci-
• Payload-Specific Drones: Drones are designed for spe- sion approach helps optimize resource utilization, reduce
cific agricultural applications besides the above types. For input wastage, and increase crop yields [15].
example, there are drones equipped with hyperspectral • Cost and Time Savings: Drones can cover large areas
sensors for detailed analysis of crop health and nutrient of farmland quickly and efficiently, reducing the time and
content [3]. There are also drones with specialized sen- labor required for manual inspections and data collection
 [16]. They can perform tasks such as crop monitoring, and surveying. Drones provide real-time and high-resolution
mapping, and spraying in a fraction of the time it would data collection, enabling farmers to make informed decisions
take using traditional methods [20]. This leads to cost regarding resource allocation and optimize crop management
savings by minimizing the need for manual labor and practices. They offer cost and time savings by reducing manual
reducing the use of resources such as water, fertilizers, labor and minimizing the use of resources. The ability of
and pesticides [18]. drones to access inaccessible areas and provide comprehensive
• Improved Data Collection and Analysis: Drones views of the fields enhances their usability and efficiency in
equipped with various sensors, such as cameras, thermal large-scale farming operations. Furthermore, drones contribute
imaging, and multispectral sensors, can collect a wide to environmental sustainability by enabling targeted spraying,
range of data about crops, soil, and environmental con- reducing chemical wastage, and minimizing the environmental
ditions [12]. This data can be used for detailed analysis impact of agricultural practices. The safety aspect of using
and monitoring, enabling farmers to detect early signs drones must be considered, as they eliminate or reduce the
of crop stress, nutrient deficiencies, or disease outbreaks need for farmers to access hazardous areas physically. De-
[6]. The data collected by drones can be processed using spite challenges such as regulations and limited flight time,
advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to advancements in drone technology are continually addressing
generate actionable insights for better decision-making these limitations. Overall, the advantages of using drones in
[19]. agriculture are significant, and their integration into farming
• Enhanced Crop Management: Drones provide real-time practices has the potential to transform the industry, leading
and up-to-date information about crop health, allowing to optimized resource utilization, improved crop yields, and
farmers to implement timely interventions and optimize sustainable agricultural practices.
crop management practices [17]. For example, drones can
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