Pesticide spraying systems for vineyards using drones

The use of drones in agriculture is often applied to the pesticide spraying processes as they allow to avoid the compaction of the tractor on the soil, to reduce the dispersion of the pesticide in the air in comparison with other aerial vehicle used in agriculture, to improve the operator safety during the treatment as he can work not in contact with the pesticide. This paper presents a numerical and an experimental study in the spraying process of the pesticides in the vineyards using drones. The analysis employed a numerical model of the airflows generated by the drone, as well as some experimental tests conducted in a purpose-built wind tunnel. This numerical study evidences the airflow trajectories and turbulences under the drone and their influence on the sprayer nozzles functioning. The simulations were then furthermore verified and analysed by means of a specific experimental bench, made of a wind tunnel and some parts simulating the drone rotors and the nozzles. The results were promising and can be used to select the optimal drone operating conditions and nozzle location for a proper pesticide distribution on the crop.