It measures up to 3×3 meters: The ultimate exponent of drones for agriculture lands in Chile: Among its innovations, it has a camera that, while flying, makes a 3D drawing ahead, to detect if there are power lines or trees, thus avoiding accidents and allowing maps to be made.
The agricultural sector contributes approximately 4.7% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Therefore, any technology that optimizes processes is welcomed by the country, as is the case with drones, which have revolutionized the industry in recent years with their various models.
Currently, there are approximately 250,000 of these sprayers worldwide, while in Chile it is estimated that there are more than 500 units operating. These are used to apply products to protect crops from pests, diseases, and weeds, as well as for other uses related to “Agriculture 4.0.” These machines cover large areas efficiently and effectively, saving up to 30% on products, and are notable for their impressive size, allowing them to reach areas inaccessible to traditional machinery.
Within this evolution, the DJI Agras T70P and the DJI Agras T100 have just landed in Chile, the latter being the ultimate exponent of these unmanned aerial vehicles, both represented by Summit Agro Chile, a Japanese multinational that is part of the Sumitomo Corporation group.
The T100 stands out for its large size, as it measures 3×3 meters when open, which allows it to have a tank of 100 liters, 60 more than the largest version that existed until today in the national skies, while the T70P reaches 70 liters.
Related to the above, another of its differentiating advantages is productivity, as it will be able to cover a larger area. Until now, the older models covered between 8 and 10 hectares per hour, while the new ones can reach up to 12.
Furthermore, these new aircraft are also capable of operating at night, exponentially increasing their productive hours. In addition, they are safer, as the T100, among its innovations, features a camera that, while flying, creates a 3D map ahead to detect power lines or trees, thus preventing accidents and enabling the creation of maps.
As an added feature, the new drone models recently arrived in Chile can transport loads of up to 80 kilos from one place to another in the field, unlike older models that could only apply liquids and solids. This allows, for example, the transport of a harvest from a hard-to-reach location or the quick and efficient delivery of tools to different areas.
With these new developments, Summit Agro aims to further solidify its position as the leading Agtech company for Chilean agriculture, seeking the tools and solutions for the agriculture of the future. “Our goal is to facilitate and optimize the work of local farmers, which is why we always strive to be at the forefront of emerging technological advancements worldwide,” says Martín Merino, the company’s president. “In this context, drones are fundamental, as they improve all existing parameters: productivity, capacity, functionality, and safety,” he adds.
Debunking myths
“They don’t have to be flown with a joystick; they operate autonomously using artificial intelligence. They’re very easy to work with,” explains Claudio Valdés, Deputy Manager of Agtech and Seipro at Summit Agro Chile. “They’re pre-configured, and you press ‘fly’ on the remote control, which then initiates the autonomous flight, using AI to perform the programmed task. When their product or battery is running low, they automatically return to their takeoff point,” he adds.
A second fear that needs to be dispelled is that large volumes of water are required. This is not the case, since, compared to traditional methods, i.e., tractors, these flying machines save up to 90%.
“Traditional agriculture applies between 400 and 1,000 liters of water per hectare,” says Valdés. “In contrast, drones apply 60 to 80 liters per hectare,” concludes the Summit Agro specialist.