Drone Updates: Expedition of Inspire 3 to the Arctic, Introducing DJI's Trio of Agricultural Drones, and Other Exciting Developments!
In a significant move for the agriculture industry and drone technology, DJI has unveiled three new agriculture drones – the DJI Agras T100, T70P, and T25P. These drones aim to boost operational efficiency for precision agriculture, with each model catering to various scales of farming operations.
DJI Agras T100: Heavy-Duty Precision Agriculture
The flagship DJI Agras T100 boasts a maximum takeoff weight of around 390 lbs, supporting modular payloads such as a 100-liter spray tank or a 150-220 kg spreader for fertilizer/seed spreading. With a twin 62-inch carbon-fiber propeller system, the T100 can reach speeds of up to 44 mph and boasts spray flow rates of up to 30 liters per minute.
The T100 is equipped with advanced flight and safety systems, including centimeter-level RTK positioning, multi-directional obstacle sensing, and rapid battery recharging. It also features IP-rated protection for dust, water, and weather resistance, making it suitable for harsh environments.
The T100's software and AI capabilities are compatible with DJI's SmartFarm platform, allowing for crop analysis and precision agriculture. It supports automated flight planning, spray optimization, route automation, and detailed mission reporting.
The T100 is ideal for large-scale commercial farms, with applications including large-scale broadacre spraying (herbicide, pesticide, fungicides), fertilizer and seed spreading, and orchard and plantation spraying with variable rate applications and precision agriculture needs.
DJI Agras T70P and T25P: Scaled-Down Capabilities
The DJI Agras T70P and T25P have been designed to cater to medium and small-scale operations, respectively. The T70P offers a balanced payload and portability, while the T25P is lightweight and compact, optimized for small farms, orchards, and research plots.
Both the T70P and T25P offer flight data sync and spray report generation, drone management using DJI AGRAS software, and are suitable for lighter, less demanding spraying and crop management tasks compared to the T100.
Summary
The DJI Agras T100, T70P, and T25P each offer unique capabilities tailored for various scales of farming operations. The T100 is designed for heavy-duty, high-efficiency agriculture, while the T70P and T25P scale down features for medium and small operations, balancing capacity and portability.
In other news, DEXA, a startup company, has secured all three crucial FAA approvals: airworthiness certification for its aircraft, a Part 135 air carrier certificate, and a national BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) waiver. This makes DEXA one of the very few U.S. companies legally cleared for large-scale drone delivery, despite its delivery footprint and volume being smaller than established giants.
Filmmaker Denis Barbas also released a cinematic journey to the Arctic earlier this year, featuring footage captured entirely in 8K RAW with the DJI Inspire 3. The journey to the Arctic footage showcases the Inspire 3's dynamic range and ability to capture fine details, delivering crisp visuals even in low winter light.
Lastly, the Pentagon's goal is to field thousands of low-cost drones integrated into every aspect of military training by 2027. The new drones are part of DJI's flagship Agras series, bringing the total count of Agras drones to 13. The Pentagon's new directive gives frontline commanders new authority to buy, test, and deploy drones on their own, including 3D-printed and off-the-shelf models. These new ag drones have heavier payloads, enhanced safety, and new multi-use capabilities, including spraying, spreading, and lifting.
- The DJI Agras T100, with a maximum payload of 390 lbs, is designed for heavy-duty, high-efficiency agriculture, featuring advanced flight systems, IP-rated protection, and software capabilities compatible with DJI's SmartFarm platform.
- DJI Agras T70P and T25P cater to medium and small-scale farming operations respectively, offering features tailored to each size, with T70P balancing payload and portability, and T25P optimized for small farms, orchards, and research plots.
- DEXA, a startup company, secured FAA approvals for airworthiness certification, a Part 135 air carrier certificate, and a national BVLOS waiver, making it one of the few U.S. companies legally cleared for large-scale drone delivery.
- The Pentagon aims to field thousands of low-cost drones, integrated into military training by 2027, as part of DJI's flagship Agras series, bringing the total count of Agras drones to 13. These new drones have enhanced safety, heavier payloads, and multi-use capabilities for spraying, spreading, and lifting.
