Indian LPU university develops drone for farmers

The Punjab based Lovely Professional University (LPU) says that the drone developed by its students in the campus is a wireless sensor device that can be used for mapping and surveying of yields and biomass.

Calculate amount of nutrients

The drone can also calculate the amount of nutrients in the soil, which will allow farmers to increase production and reduce crop damage. Currently most Indian farmers don’t have the resources to do this. According to one of the students involved in the project, the university will soon approach the Indian ministry of agriculture in order to scale up the production of these drones. That way, these drones will be cheaper than its competitors and more affordable for more farmers.

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Currently, a drone used in the agricultural sector costs around USD 500 to USD 3,000, which is not feasible for farmers in India. The LPU drone (not in picture here) will only cost USD 130 to USD 200. – Photo: AFP

Current agri drone very costly

Currently, a drone used in the agricultural sector costs around USD 500 to USD 3,000, which is not feasible for farmers in India. The LPU drone will only cost USD 130 to USD 200. Once produced in larger numbers, the price will decrease. Over 50 students from Electronics, Mechanical, and Agricultural Engineering departments have worked on the project.

Flying Farmer will benefit small and marginal farmers

According to the student we spoke to, the drone will solve 2 major agricultural issues faced by farmers that includes pesticide treatment and weed detection. With rising labour costs and a shortage of labour, drone technology will replace human labour in applying pesticides.

The LPU drone could play a major role in aiming to make agriculture sustainable in India, since it will give more farmers the tools to implement sustainable farming pratices.

With a fully charged battery, the drone can fly for about 25 minutes. It can be pre-programmed to target specific areas and crops to deliver pesticides and avoid overusage of pesticides.

15%-20% yield improvement

According to the student involved in the development program field trials with the Fyling Farmer drone have shown yield improvement of 15%-20% compared to traditional farming techniques.

Using computer vision algorithms and infrared sensors the drones are able to identify weeds and their exact position, and send this information to the farmer for timely action.

Open source

LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal said that the university will not file for a patent, as it wants the technology to be open source. That way it can made available to as many farmers as possible, at the lowest costs. For further development LPU has already generated an internal research grant of USD 175,000.

LPU’s School of Agriculture is the first Indian Private University to be granted a Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) accreditation by the Indian Agriculture Ministry.