2025, Vol. 8, Special Issue 3

author(s)
Senthil Kumar M and Jaganraj R

abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are revolutionizing precision agriculture by enhancing critical operations such as crop monitoring, pesticide spraying, and field mapping. This study focuses on evaluating the performance of a UAV-based spraying system, leveraging flight logs to assess key parameters including battery usage, navigation accuracy, environmental impact, and overall system health. The trial was conducted at a farmer’s field near Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu, during the Rabi season of 2024, providing real-world insights into the system’s operational efficiency under typical agricultural conditions. The results highlight the UAV’s exceptional performance, particularly in terms of altitude control, positional consistency, and environmental adaptability. The system demonstrated precise altitude control, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.195 meters, and maintained minimal deviation from the target altitude, as indicated by an Altitude Stability Index of 1.95%. Furthermore, the UAV exhibited high positional consistency, achieving a Range Consistency Index of 0.583%, which underscores its ability to maintain a stable flight path during spraying operations. Environmental factors such as wind speed were also evaluated, with the UAV showing strong resistance to wind interference. At a wind speed of 5 meters per second, the system recorded only a 0.031-meter variation in altitude, highlighting its robustness in challenging conditions. Additionally, the UAV maintained stable hover performance, with a minor horizontal drift of 5 meters over a 10-second interval. Landing accuracy was another key metric, with the UAV achieving a precision margin of ±0.5 meters, further emphasizing its reliability. These findings underscore the UAV’s potential to enhance precision agriculture by offering a reliable, efficient, and environmentally adaptable solution for crop spraying and monitoring. The study provides valuable insights for optimizing UAV performance in agricultural applications, particularly, where precision farming can significantly improve crop yields and resource efficiency.