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Enhancing Crop Yield and Efficiency with Drones: Weed Growth Control

The use of drones is revolutionizing many industries, including agriculture. In recent years, drones have been increasingly used in farming to improve crop yield and efficiency. This technology allows farmers to manage their farmland more efficiently, which can help them to make better decisions about their crops. In this post, we will explore how Haji Ab Rahim bin Mahmood, a former MADA officer and farmer, has been using drones to enhance his crop yield and efficiency. 

In Haji Ab Rahim bin Mahmood’s area, the main challenge he faces is weed growth. The paddy growth can be slow, taking up to a week to spot any growth before the weed grow. The traditional method of manually applying fertilizer and weed control can be tedious, time-consuming, and often, not effective. This is where the drone technology comes in handy.  

Haji Ab Rahim bin Mahmood has been using drones to spray fertilizer and weed control on his crops. He shares that when the paddy plants are about 15 days old, he uses the drone to apply fertilizer. This is followed by weed control 3-4 days later. This method has shown to improve crop yield and efficiency significantly. 

Using drones for weed growth control offers several benefits, including:  

 

  • Speed: One of the significant advantages of using drones is that they can cover a large area of farmland quickly. In comparison, traditional manual methods may take days or weeks to cover the same area. 
  • Precision: Drones can apply fertilizer and weed control at a more precise rate, ensuring that the crops receive the required amount. The drone’s ability to apply the substances evenly across the crops also reduces wastage. 
  • Efficiency: The use of drones also leads to improved efficiency, saving time and reducing labor costs. With drones, farmers can cover more land in less time, allowing them to allocate their resources to other critical aspects of the farm. 
  • Higher yield: Finally, by providing precise and timely application of substances, drone technology has been shown to enhance crop yields. Haji Ab Rahim bin Mahmood shares that since he started using drones, his yield has increased by up to 50%. 

In conclusion, the use of drones is a game-changer in the farming industry, and Haji Ab Rahim bin Mahmood’s case study is a prime example of how drones can improve crop yield and efficiency. With the benefits of speed, precision, and efficiency, drones are an excellent investment for farmers looking to maximize their yields and profitability. By enhancing the capability and efficiency in weed control, drone technology is set to revolutionize the way farming is done in the future. 

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Tips

Agriculture Drone Battery Comparison

Difference between Soft Pack Li-Po and Hard Case Li-po

Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) batteries are the bread and butter of any Remote Controlled vehicles. From mAH amount to C-rating discharge rates, it can be very confusing for the casual Drone Pilot. Most Agriculture drones are powered by Li-Po Batteries that come in 2 different configurations – Soft pack Li-Po and hard pack Li-Po (also known as hard case Li-Po). Here we have listed the main differences between the two Li-Po battery configurations for you to make a well-informed decision when selecting 3rd party batteries for your Agriculture Drone. 

advantages

Advantages of Soft Pack Li-Po

– The biggest advantage of a soft pack Li-Po is the weight savings as it is wrapped in heat shrink plastic rather than a bulky plastic case. This would help reduce the take-off weight greatly. Any weight reduction will improve flight times of your drone 

– Soft pack Li-Po’s are also smaller in size since they’re made with the bare minimum amount of materials.  

– Due to the relatively thin protective heat shrinking, it is also easier to see if the battery is physically damaged, “puffing” and “bloating” due to misuse, overdischarge or improper storage.  

– Without a hard casing protecting the battery, you can generally fit more batteries in a small space when compared to a hard case Li-Po    

Advantages of Hard Pack Li-Po

– Protection and durability are the number 1 reason why you should use a hard case Li-Po. They are usually built with a sturdy thick plastic casing that covers the entire battery and protects it from bumps, scratches and harsh environments.  

– In Agriculture Drones, most hard case Li-Po comes with a “Smart” feature. Depending on the model, you can check the count of cycles and battery level. 

– Hard Case Li-Po usually has a balance cable port, rather than a fixed cable like a soft pack Li-Po. 

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Soft Pack Li-Po

– Li-Po batteries are fragile and soft pack Li-Po’s can be physically damaged easily if mishandled, or if your drone crashes. One of the big downsides of using a Li-Po battery is that it can easily catch fire if the cells are punctured. 

Disadvantages of Hard Pack Li-Po 

– Hard case Li-Po’s are heavier when compared to a soft pack Li-Po with the same cell and mAh count.  

– There is less mAh capacity and power in a hard pack Li-Po when comparing it to a soft pack Li-Po with the same weight. 

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Mist Drone

Spot Spraying or Blanket Spraying?

Spot Spraying vs Blanket Spraying

There are two main types of spraying agriculture drones that are commonly used for open-field crops and plantations. Spot and blanket spraying drone make up the most popular types of agriculture drones as they are highly efficient for different crop types. 

Spot spraying

Spot spraying refers to high precision spraying that targets a specific area of a plantation. Generally, spot spraying is used for orchard plantations such as oil palm, durian and so on.  

Spot spraying is great for cost optimisation as it’s precision spraying allows farmers to accurately control the quantity and area of spraying to avoid excessive use of pesticides.     

Recommended Drone For Spot Spraying

Recommended Drone For Spot Spraying

Oryctes is Malaysia’s first spot spraying drone. It is designed for precision application of pesticides on oil palm.  

Find out more about Orytes Dual here: aonic.com/my/oryctes

Oryctes-spot-spraying-agriculture-drone
Picture of Oryctes

Blanket spraying

Blanket spraying is great at providing a wide coverage of spraying with an even mist. It is designed specifically for open field crops such as paddy. 

With blanket spraying, traditional farmers are able to save time and energy as it’s efficient automated spraying requires a very low cost of manpower when opposed to manual backpack spraying.  

Recommended Drone For Blanket Spraying

Mist Drone is a blanket spraying drone that provides unmatched efficiency and outstanding wide-area coverage. It delivers superior crop protection at a fraction of the expense of old approaches, while also making spraying much faster, easier, and safer for farmers and the environment. 

Find out more about Mist Drone here: Mist Drone

Picture of Mist Drone

Get more information and find out more about spot and blanket spraying drones  from our drone experts! 

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Tips

Lipo Battery Tips

lipo battery tips

Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) batteries are now found in a wide range of consumer electronic gadgets such as drones; these batteries power the majority of agriculture drones. Here are some Lipo battery tips to keep your agriculture drone flying in great condition!

Agriculture-drone-battery-changing

TIPS

Common Dont’s

– Avoid dropping or hitting the battery.  

– Never expose the battery to fire.  

– Do not tamper with the battery’s cells.  

– Do not pierce or damage the battery with any sharp objects.   

Charging

When charging or discharging a Li-Po battery, there are a few safety measures to take note of in order to ensure that you are out of harm’s way and that your battery is well maintained.

Here are some tips on how you can practice safe charging:

– Always use a charger made specifically for Li-Po batteries.

– Always check for damages on the battery before charging. Defects on battery may cause battery failure due to short circuit.

– Always keep an eye on your Li-Po batteries while they’re charging. Leaving the battery unattended might cause unexpected issues such as fire.

– Stop charging when the battery is fully charged and never overcharge a Li-Po battery.

– Always take out your batteries when charging. Never charge it when it is inside your drone.

– Never leave your Li-Po batteries fully charged for longer than a couple of days. You will need to discharge it if the battery is not in use.

– Never charge a battery that is warm from usage, and vice versa. Batteries that are frequently exposed to heat will have a shorter lifespan.

– Never charge batteries around flammable objects and fluids. Ensure that your battery is on a concrete or ceramic surface as materials such as wood or carpet may cause a fire.

Storing

One of the most common hazards when it comes to batteries is fire. However, taking necessary precautions storing your Li-Po battery can help prevent fire from occurring. Properly storing a Li-Po battery can also prolong its lifespan and decrease the likelihood of the battery getting damaged. 

These are ways you can store your Li-Po batteries:  

– Always store your Li-Po battery in a fireproof bag or case. Storing your battery in a regular or travelling case for a long time may cause fire due to the material of the bag.   

– Keep batteries away from hot environments. Exposing your battery to heat will shorten its lifespan and run a risk of fire.  

– Keep batteries away from extremely cold environments. Cold environments can be dangerous for your Li-Po batteries as it can cause condensation when exposed to sudden heat.  

– Do not leave your Li-Po batteries fully charged or drained when it is not in use.  

– Always detach the batteries when it is not in use. 

Fly More Combo

All our drone models have Fly More Combos available. With these Lipo battery tips, you’ll be able to keep your agriculture drone in great condition for a long time!

Mist-Lite-Boom-Spray-Arm-Configuration

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Mist Drone benefits

Mist Drone Benefits

With the advent of Industry 4.0 better known as IR 4.0, businesses are able to utilize technologies that incorporates high levels of autonomy to streamline their business processes. One of the technologies that is helping businesses achieve IR 4.0 readiness today is the use of drones. In Agriculture, drones are primarily used for automated spraying.

How can Mist Drone help paddy farmers?

Reduced Health Risks in Humans

Pesticides are an important aspect in agriculture as they control pests that negatively impact the yield results of a plantation. To counter this, plantations owners resort to manual backpack spraying as an entry point to controlling disruptive pests. This leads to a higher amount of contact to pesticides and long-term exposure to chemicals that may lead to potential health threats. By using Mist Drone, you can reduce the amount of exposure to harmful substances contained in pesticides and fertilizers as the spraying action happens far away from the pilot.

Save time, money, and energy

Manual spraying methods consume a great deal of time, energy and manpower costs. Thus, utilizing Mist Drones can help combat high-costs through its efficient automated spraying, controlled pesticide / fertilizer usage and almost zero manpower costs when compared to manual backpack spraying

Streamlining operations

Foreign labour has been the backbone of the agriculture industry for many decades. With the pandemic restrictions in place, labour shortage has become a serious problem for many plantation owners.

With this, Mist Drone is able to reduce the dependence on foreign workers, which not only helps provide more employment opportunities for our local youth to advance into modern agriculture but also solves the foreign labour shortage caused by the pandemic. By utilizing Mist Drone, Plantation owners no longer need a large workforce to run their day-to-day spraying operations

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Mist Drone

Mist Drone Models

Mist Drone Models

Mist Lite Series

The Mist Lite Series offers 2 types of drones for customers to choose from: the quadcopter (4 propellers) and the hexacopter (6 propellers).

The Mist Lite has a tank capacity of 16 litres. However, customers who are not in need of a large volume and prefer a longer flight time are able to opt for a 10 litre tank upon request.

With the help of the 4L/minute pump flow rate and the 5m/second flight speed, Mist Drone is able to efficiently assist with your spraying operations. It’s FPV mode(first-person view) allows the pilot to use an onboard camera that will act as the eyes when flying the drone; this helps keep the pilot aware of their surroundings when flying out of line-of-sight.

Mist Pro Series

Similar to Mist Lite, Mist Pro uses the same frame configuration, but with 2 additional functions. Mist Pro offers a terrain following mode which allows the drone to maintain constant altitude above uneven terrain. It also has an obstacle avoidance feature where sensors will detect obstacles, enabling the drone to avoid obstructions when encountered.

Mist Max Series

Mist Max Series consists of all the features of Mist Pro Series. However, it uses a different larger frame that has a hot-swappable water tank and battery (14S 22,000mAh). This can help reduce downtime between flights and improve your operation efficiency. The Mist Max can be configured to spread solid materials such as seeds and solid / powder type fertilizers. It can also carry a larger tank payload of 26 liters, allowing it to fly longer without having to refill the tank often.

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