Agricultural Drone Sprays: The Technology at the Heart of Precision Agriculture

In spraying operations carried out with traditional agricultural machinery, 40–60% of the chemical used is lost before reaching the target area. TEU-AGR's spray system is equipped with advanced flow control, dynamic pressure adjustment, and wind compensation algorithms to ensure every droplet reaches its target.

Why is the Spray System So Critical?

When the position, pressure, flow rate, and flight parameters of spray systems are optimized simultaneously, mutually reinforcing results such as increased agricultural productivity, pesticide savings, and reduced soil pollution are achieved.

Key Components of a Spray System

A spray system in an agricultural drone consists of several sub-components that appear independent but are tightly integrated:

Centrifugal System: Atomizes the liquid on a rotating disc. The droplet size can be precisely adjusted according to the disc speed. It is more resistant to wind drift.

Multi-System Flat Fan Array: Provides uniform coverage over large areas. Each system can be switched on and off independently; this prevents over-application in turns and edge areas. Flow Control System: Peristaltic or diaphragm pumps and electric flow control valves provide instantaneous flow rate adjustment depending on flight speed and altitude.

Intelligent Pump Driver: PWM-based pump control integrated with the ArduPilot AP_Sprayer layer establishes a continuous feedback loop in autonomous spraying mode.

Droplet Size: An Invisible Parameter

There is a variable that is at least as critical as the system type in spray efficiency: droplet size. Very small droplets drift in the atmosphere, while very large droplets slide off the leaf surface and disappear.

The TEU-AGR spray system can continuously adjust the rotation speed of centrifugal systems in the range of 100–300 μm. In this way, the user can dynamically optimize the system in the field according to the product and conditions.

Wind Compensation and Drift Management

In open field conditions, wind is the biggest factor reducing spray efficiency. The TEU-AGR 01's flight control software implements three different strategic interventions using real-time wind forecasting:

Altitude reduction: When the wind speed exceeds a set threshold, the system automatically reduces the flight altitude to shorten the system-target distance.

Flow rate increase: In increasing winds, the flow rate is increased to increase droplet weight; this creates larger droplets.

Flight path optimization: The flight plan is automatically adjusted to select paths as parallel to the wind as possible to minimize the effect of the wind.

Advantage of Domestic Software: TeusanGCS, developed by Teusan, can simulate spray parameters before flight and add direct spraying modulation commands to mission plans. This integration operates entirely on a domestic codebase, independent of commercial counterparts.

Tank and Filter Design

Spray quality directly depends on the tank and filter design. The 50-liter food-grade polymer tank used in the TEU-AGR 01 is configured for symmetrical weight distribution. The internal filters in the pipeline, with their quick-fill nozzle, utilize an 80-mesh sieve surface to prevent system clogging.

System clogging, a common problem in field conditions, is reduced by 70% thanks to this filter design. For ease of maintenance, all filters are designed to be removable without tools. "The agricultural drone spray system is not just a chemical delivery mechanism; it is a precision layer that instantly reads, decides on, and optimizes field conditions. TEU-AGR is designed with this understanding."

Conclusion

In agricultural drones, the spray system is one of the most critical competitive variables of the platform. Correct spray selection, intelligent flow control, wind compensation, and integrated software support increase the efficiency of these systems and provide ease of use for the user.

As Teusan, the spray system we offer on the TEU-AGR platform aims to transfer competitive technology to Turkish agriculture with our domestic software integration and engineering approach. Delivering every drop to the right place means both the farmer and the soil win.