Agriculture Spraying Drone Design
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
I need a practical, ready-to-build design for an agriculture spraying drone that can cover large corn, soybean, cotton, and rice fields. The drone must be able to dispense both fertilizers and pesticides, so chemical-resistant plumbing and an easily cleaned tank are essential.
This is an extremely large drone. It must be able to lift at least 500lbs. The frame will be constructed of 4" and 3" carbon fiber. I have a design which I created in Blender for my planning of this project. I believe that it should be a quadcopter with 8 motors. In addition it will carry an onboard generator for powering the motors.
Core capabilities I am looking for:
• Automated flight paths using a proven autopilot (Pixhawk, ArduPilot, or similar)
• Real-time monitoring with live video and telemetry back to a tablet or laptop
• Variable-rate application tied to GPS waypoints or NDVI maps
• Heavy-lifting frame and powertrain sized for a full spray tank (please recommend practical payload, motor/ESC combo, prop size, and battery spec)
Your deliverable should include:
1. A detailed parts list with model numbers, suppliers, and estimated costs
2. CAD or annotated drawings of the airframe, tank mounting, pump/nozzle layout, and wiring harness
3. Autopilot parameter file or step-by-step setup guide for automated missions, geofencing, and return-to-home safety
4. A brief calibration and field-operation manual covering flow rate adjustment, swath width, and maintenance
5. Optional but appreciated: suggestions on regulatory compliance (FAA Part 137 or local equivalents) and best practices for chemical handling
Keep the design practical—components that are available off-the-shelf and serviceable in the field are preferred over exotic custom parts. If you have previously built or flown similar UAV sprayers, feel free to attach photos or flight logs so I can see your approach.
This is an extremely large drone. It must be able to lift at least 500lbs. The frame will be constructed of 4" and 3" carbon fiber. I have a design which I created in Blender for my planning of this project. I believe that it should be a quadcopter with 8 motors. In addition it will carry an onboard generator for powering the motors.
Core capabilities I am looking for:
• Automated flight paths using a proven autopilot (Pixhawk, ArduPilot, or similar)
• Real-time monitoring with live video and telemetry back to a tablet or laptop
• Variable-rate application tied to GPS waypoints or NDVI maps
• Heavy-lifting frame and powertrain sized for a full spray tank (please recommend practical payload, motor/ESC combo, prop size, and battery spec)
Your deliverable should include:
1. A detailed parts list with model numbers, suppliers, and estimated costs
2. CAD or annotated drawings of the airframe, tank mounting, pump/nozzle layout, and wiring harness
3. Autopilot parameter file or step-by-step setup guide for automated missions, geofencing, and return-to-home safety
4. A brief calibration and field-operation manual covering flow rate adjustment, swath width, and maintenance
5. Optional but appreciated: suggestions on regulatory compliance (FAA Part 137 or local equivalents) and best practices for chemical handling
Keep the design practical—components that are available off-the-shelf and serviceable in the field are preferred over exotic custom parts. If you have previously built or flown similar UAV sprayers, feel free to attach photos or flight logs so I can see your approach.