Octocopter Drone: Design for Transporting Pesticides and Agricultural Applications

Akingbade, Osasere Luisa & Ojo, Latifat Adewumi, Volume 3 Issue 2, December 2022 Pages 100-106, Published: 2022-12-09

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sometimes known as drones, are used in current agricultural practices that involve the application of pesticides and other chemicals for the healthy operation and growth of farm produce. Digital farming is the practice of using digital technologies to move agricultural products from pastoral farmers to the ultimate customers. The system can be manually operated by using a transmitter or autonomously by utilizing flight control software. The technology drastically cuts the amount of time needed while maintaining safety measures. This made it possible to design a drone equipped with a spraying mechanism that includes a 12V pump, a 5liter storage tank, 4 spray nozzles, an octocopter configuration frame, a suitable landing frame, 8 Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors with appropriate propellers to produce the required thrust, which is about 38.2 kg (100% RPM), a battery with a current capacity of 5200mAH, and a 22.2V motor. The drone underwent flight tests to determine its calibration, the longevity of the battery, and the ability of the motors to generate the required uplift thrust. For the purpose of watching the spraying operation, a first-person view (FPV) transmitter was attached to the drone. It has been proven that the methods utilized to transport pesticides and other agro-allied chemicals allow for high levels of farm produce sustainability.