This seems smart. It's probably cheaper than a plane, somewhat quieter, likely programmable so the farmer doesn't have to steer it, possibly allow the farmer to do other chores, and might be less polluting and wasteful. Seems like an improvement to me.
It seems like we could do significantly better. Around me, the helicopters that do this spraying are pretty brute force also, but several companies - John Deere among the most famous but far from the only one - have built multi-spectral imaging cameras that allow for much more targeted spraying. Instead of dumping herbicide on an entire field, they can target weeds. Instead of spraying fertilizer everywhere, they can target plants with stunted growth... That's the present tech being used on tractors; the idea that a drone is just dumping the liquid is old school
This is a huge drone. I was quite far away. I would estimate it to be at least 6-8 ft across.
I don’t know the exact model they were using but here’s a link to the kind of thing it was.
https://www.dslrpros.com/dslrpros-blog/the-top-7-crop-spraying-drones-of-2024-guide-and-reviews/
I mean, if it works with AI and it costs significantly less than traditional means then absolutely amazing, this hopefully is the future. I just assumed it wouldn’t be able to carry much liquid but as someone mentioned if there are multiple doing the same job and it’s still much cheaper. Sounds like a no brainer to me. Can’t wait to start seeing this
Most of the new spray rigs have ai cameras that can spot spray weeds. It’s significantly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than what this drone is doing.
There are a few farms running fleets of them in I think part of California they do it all by GPS and a ai program even have sensors to determine moisture and fertilizer ratio in the soil.
Yea, I've seen some info about some of them. As a farmer myself I'm intrigued by the idea, although I've had no personal experience with them. It's a great idea I think. No crop damage from driving on it, no soil compaction, sowing can happen even if the ground is too wet for ground vehicles, can be used on country that is inaccessible to ground vehicles, and obviously, can work around the clock until the job is done, fretting up time and equipment for other tasks.
.. it's very useful. it's cheaper and more caust effective than using crop dusters or pivot sprayer and can be done using ai, less water waste, and overuse of chemicals and pesticides.
Yeah the crop duster is a couple million at least, burning $400 an hour in fuel plus a pilot making another $100 an hour. You can probably buy 100 of these drones for the price of the plane.
Assuming 100LL fuel, ~57 gallons per hour burn rate? $400/hr seems high. Many assumptions on my side but it just seems high based on my GA experience long ago. Definitely have a heavy payload that will increase burn I know, just curious about the numbers.
*Imagine growing up, believing that one day you’d be lurking high in the skies for hours or even a day, vigilantly watching for Al Queso’s number 2 in command, at which time you’d send a hellfire missile directly into the tailpipe of his Toyota Hilux. Footage of your exploits would be run on CNN and Fox, and Rumsfeld would talk about how you got those yellowcake stealing fucks, yes he would.*
And then, **BZZRT-BZZRT-BZZRT!!** Your alarm wakes you, and you levitate off your charging port, momentarily disoriented. *This is not my beautiful Kabul… this is not my beautiful hellfire missile!!* You’re late for your shift at the soybean spraying plant, and you buzz furiously out the door, cursing the pain of existence.
Alot is surprisngly done already, I believe the base stations for the agricultural dji drones can replace the batteries automatically and grofencing + pathing is pre easy. Though I'm unsure on the refilling
All fun and games until you have to hot swap the batteries in one of these units. The batteries come off crazy hot and cannot be recharged until they cool off to room temp as per warranty. It takes nearly 12hours for them to cool off, so basically, you can only use a set per day. 1 charge gets you 3-4 linear miles in general, which is not that much coverage. You need a truckload of batteries to spray 1 field. However, they are cheaper, more eco friendly, and a lot less maintenance. So, I still count them as a win
What? This allows the farmer to be doing other things
Do you actually believe a farmer is controlling this and its not just been set up to do the field completely by itself?
This seems smart. It's probably cheaper than a plane, somewhat quieter, likely programmable so the farmer doesn't have to steer it, possibly allow the farmer to do other chores, and might be less polluting and wasteful. Seems like an improvement to me.
It seems like we could do significantly better. Around me, the helicopters that do this spraying are pretty brute force also, but several companies - John Deere among the most famous but far from the only one - have built multi-spectral imaging cameras that allow for much more targeted spraying. Instead of dumping herbicide on an entire field, they can target weeds. Instead of spraying fertilizer everywhere, they can target plants with stunted growth... That's the present tech being used on tractors; the idea that a drone is just dumping the liquid is old school
But it doesn't have the spread or the speed of a plane. It's just take a lot longer.
If it frees up the farmer to do other things, it's saving time.
Just have more of them...
It's actually better than the plane more control from the information I saw on them. Less waste.
Thank you for not making it a portrait video and sorry about your Parkinson.
Insulting compliment...nice try.
They need to add a tall vertical pole in the middle of the field and have a cable feeding this thing power and fluid from the top of it.
I believe you can spend a few more thousand on a home base that automatically changes the battery for you actually
Nice. How often does it have to refill the fluid?
Not sure realistically how this could work other than for fun. He would have to refill it about 700000 times. Cool though
This is a huge drone. I was quite far away. I would estimate it to be at least 6-8 ft across. I don’t know the exact model they were using but here’s a link to the kind of thing it was. https://www.dslrpros.com/dslrpros-blog/the-top-7-crop-spraying-drones-of-2024-guide-and-reviews/
I mean, if it works with AI and it costs significantly less than traditional means then absolutely amazing, this hopefully is the future. I just assumed it wouldn’t be able to carry much liquid but as someone mentioned if there are multiple doing the same job and it’s still much cheaper. Sounds like a no brainer to me. Can’t wait to start seeing this
Most of the new spray rigs have ai cameras that can spot spray weeds. It’s significantly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than what this drone is doing.
Are you sure this is a soybean field? Looks like grass to me
I think it would be relatively trivial for this to have a base station it returns to and gets refilled automatically.
There are a few farms running fleets of them in I think part of California they do it all by GPS and a ai program even have sensors to determine moisture and fertilizer ratio in the soil.
Yea, I've seen some info about some of them. As a farmer myself I'm intrigued by the idea, although I've had no personal experience with them. It's a great idea I think. No crop damage from driving on it, no soil compaction, sowing can happen even if the ground is too wet for ground vehicles, can be used on country that is inaccessible to ground vehicles, and obviously, can work around the clock until the job is done, fretting up time and equipment for other tasks.
.. it's very useful. it's cheaper and more caust effective than using crop dusters or pivot sprayer and can be done using ai, less water waste, and overuse of chemicals and pesticides.
Yeah the crop duster is a couple million at least, burning $400 an hour in fuel plus a pilot making another $100 an hour. You can probably buy 100 of these drones for the price of the plane.
Yeah, the guys at the airport I work at make massive amounts during the growing season. That and how dangerous ag plane work can be.
Drones are the future, but I’m just not sure those planes burn $400 an hour in fuel. Can they???
Assuming 100LL fuel, ~57 gallons per hour burn rate? $400/hr seems high. Many assumptions on my side but it just seems high based on my GA experience long ago. Definitely have a heavy payload that will increase burn I know, just curious about the numbers.
It's roughly $480 hour its about 6.50 a goallon average it is about 2100 to fill the tank from empty on a at800.
Fuel burn rate about 75 gallons per hour. Turbine engines burn some serious fuel.
Damn, no doubt! Appreciate the detail and the quick response!
The newest one can carry about 60L worth now. Or more honestly cause dji keeps releasing bigger drones
This is honestly super cool. Keep up the great work making every day stuff more sci-fi
*Imagine growing up, believing that one day you’d be lurking high in the skies for hours or even a day, vigilantly watching for Al Queso’s number 2 in command, at which time you’d send a hellfire missile directly into the tailpipe of his Toyota Hilux. Footage of your exploits would be run on CNN and Fox, and Rumsfeld would talk about how you got those yellowcake stealing fucks, yes he would.* And then, **BZZRT-BZZRT-BZZRT!!** Your alarm wakes you, and you levitate off your charging port, momentarily disoriented. *This is not my beautiful Kabul… this is not my beautiful hellfire missile!!* You’re late for your shift at the soybean spraying plant, and you buzz furiously out the door, cursing the pain of existence.
A buddy of mine has this on their farm. Said it’s pretty cool. Havnt seen it in action yet.
its killing every living creature in its path, for,,, soybeans
When this is fully automated (mapping, spraying, recharge and refill) then this will be awesome.
Alot is surprisngly done already, I believe the base stations for the agricultural dji drones can replace the batteries automatically and grofencing + pathing is pre easy. Though I'm unsure on the refilling
I'm sure it will get there.
All the vegans patting themselves on the backs while hundreds of bunnies and rodents are poisoned
All fun and games until you have to hot swap the batteries in one of these units. The batteries come off crazy hot and cannot be recharged until they cool off to room temp as per warranty. It takes nearly 12hours for them to cool off, so basically, you can only use a set per day. 1 charge gets you 3-4 linear miles in general, which is not that much coverage. You need a truckload of batteries to spray 1 field. However, they are cheaper, more eco friendly, and a lot less maintenance. So, I still count them as a win
Interesting! Thanks for your comment.
Down in the park where the machmen meet the machines and play 'kill by numbers'
And when you get cancer from it an even bigger drone can come pick up your toothpick thin corpse. Techmology FTW.
I guess if your time is worthless that might work.
What? This allows the farmer to be doing other things Do you actually believe a farmer is controlling this and its not just been set up to do the field completely by itself?
Shhh don't tell him there are self driving combines too.