Drones have always been linked to photography and are widely recognized to be indispensable photography tools. That being said, these unmanned, autonomous flying machines are now being used to reform the agricultural industry.
One cannot overlook the importance of drones in agriculture. These unmanned aerial vehicles are designed and built using state-of-the-art technology and are outfitted with precision drone lenses, which get the job done quickly and efficiently. Today, an increasing number of farmers are turning to drones as they can help them become more sustainable and increase their production rate. After all, with the help of drones, farmers can optimize pesticide spraying and control the amount used, reduce water use, control crop quality, and access areas that are often left unattended by traditional farming methods.
The ability of drones can also streamline the way crops are planted, as they can shoot pods with seeds and plant nutrients into the soil. These nutrients ensure the sustainable growth of the entire yield. This planting method can reduce the overall cost of production by an astounding 85% and result in an uptake rate of as much as 75%.
In addition to that, drone lenses (fitted with thermal as well as hyperspectral sensors) can help farmers identify crops that are dry and effortlessly irrigate them. In this careful irrigation, there are fewer opportunities for fertilizers to run off into water bodies. Moreover, these drones are designed in such a way that they can determine the health of crops and alert farmers if anything is wrong so that they can respond to the problem in a timely manner.
With the help of Hyperspectral Imaging startups such as Gamaya, the data provided by drones is converted into valuable insights that allow farmers to capture, manage, and analyze their crop production. Another UK-based startup named Accelerated Dynamics simplifies the use of these drones, enabling the farmers to use them to their advantage without any training.
The mechanized and innovative way of agricultural production using drones is being preferred over the traditional farming practices since the latter uses heavy machinery (like tractors) that roll over the soil, press, and damage it. On the other hand, “drone sprayers do not touch the ground, so there will be less soil compaction,” says Jack Wrangham, co-founder of the British agricultural drone company, Drone AG. He mentions that drone use is also commercially successful in Asian countries, particularly China, “as drones can get to areas that are difficult for larger tractors to access.”
Thanks to a laundry list of benefits, drones are being used for agricultural purposes all over the world. In fact, researchers in AgResearch (New Zealand’s leading Crown Research Institute) are planning to mount specialist cameras on drones that will be able to identify weeds based on their unique chemical signatures and locate them precisely using the Global Positioning System (GPS).
High-resolution lenses are the critical component of all these drones, providing high-quality images and detailed data that can be used for further analysis. Looking for premium lenses that provide accurate data? Get in touch with Universe Optics today.