Abstract:
Precision Agriculture (PA) is being revolutionized by unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs), which enable for more effective resource utilization. PA
will reach every corner of Sri Lanka in the next years. As a result, the
purpose of this research is to (a) categorize UAVs in agriculture based on
their performance characteristics, and (b) examine future challenges and
research opportunities that will lead to the long-term deployment of UAVs
in PA. The types, applications, advantages, disadvantages, opportunities,
and potential dangers of using UAVs in PA were critically reviewed,
examined, and evaluated using scholarly research articles, conference
proceeding papers, and previously published literature from the past fifteen
years, and information gaps were identified. UAVs have been classified
based on their major performance parameters such as weight, endurance
and range, altitude, wing loading, engine type, and power/thrust loading.
UAVs are more appropriate in agricultural practices due to their high spatial
resolution and fast turnaround capabilities, as well as their low operating
costs and ease of use. Livestock and wildlife management, crop
monitoring, chemical and fertilizer application, weed detection, field
mapping, and soil condition assessment are the major applications of
UAVs. Some of the primary constraints observed are the capture and
availability of images on time, a lack of high spatial resolution images,
challenges with image interpretation, and data extraction. Overall, UAVs
are one of the most important technologies that transform traditional
cultivation practices into a new perspective of intelligence in PA.
