Optimizing Drone Spraying for Agriculture
Author Information
Author(s): Yallappa D., Kavitha R., Surendrakumar A., Suthakar B., Mohan Kumar A. P., Kannan Balaji, Kalarani M. K.
Primary Institution: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
Hypothesis
How can the operational parameters of drone sprayers be optimized for better spray distribution?
Conclusion
The study found that a hover height of 2.0 m and a nozzle spacing of 0.6 m at an operating pressure of 4.0 kg cm−2 resulted in the best spray uniformity distribution.
Supporting Evidence
- The optimized nozzle spacing of 0.6 m and a 4.0 kg cm−2 operating pressure were chosen for the drone sprayer distribution test.
- Better spray uniformity distribution was found when the drone sprayer hovered at 2.0 m compared to 1.0 m and 3.0 m.
- More round spray droplet patterns were generated at lower hover heights due to the impact of downwash airflow.
Takeaway
Drones can spray crops better if they fly at the right height and use the right nozzle spacing, which helps plants get the nutrients they need.
Methodology
The study involved testing different spray heights, nozzle spacings, and operating pressures using a custom spray patternator to measure spray distribution.
Limitations
The study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, which may not fully represent field conditions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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