Getting a small drone to fly among pepper plants to scout for diseases. At Delft University, they are looking at the options.
Too big and too heavy
Drones are already being used in greenhouses to make videos of the company, but they don’t actually help out with cultivation. The video drones are notoriously unsuitable. They are too large, too heavy, and can’t be controlled by GPS because of the metallic greenhouse structure. Simply put: they are not safe enough to use in the greenhouse.
Too big and too heavy
Drones are already being used in greenhouses to make videos of the company, but they don’t actually help out with cultivation. The video drones are notoriously unsuitable. They are too large, too heavy, and can’t be controlled by GPS because of the metallic greenhouse structure. Simply put: they are not safe enough to use in the greenhouse.
Drones, however, do offer opportunities in horticulture, says Martijn Wisse of Delft University, speaking at the Green Tech Summit. He thinks they can perform quality checks or detect crop problems. TU Delft is busy developing drones that are suited for exactly this type of work. This is done in cooperation with the business community in the four-year program Precisietechnologie Tuinbouw (Precision Technology Horticulture).
Navigation
The development was launched last year, and soon the first swarm of drones will be unleashed in greenhouses. The pocket drones are equipped with autonomous navigation and are smaller than a coin. Thus, they pose no risks to plants or employees.