The DJI Agras T40 agricultural drone is designed for precision crop spraying. It’s a larger version of the Agras T20, and offers improved performance, greater reliability, and more advanced features.
Crop spraying with drones and digital agriculture is not new technology but farming drones, including the DJI Agras T40, continue to grow in popularity.
What's New : Agras T40
The Agras T40 is DJI’s latest contribution to digital agriculture, this drone intelligently adapts to new information such as crop size and shape to deliver the most effective application of fertiliser or pesticides. Precision crop spraying is becoming a crucial element of modern agriculture, this drone helps farmers efficiently manage their crops while reducing the environmental impact of traditional crop spraying methods.
The Agras T40 is equipped with a high-precision spraying system that uses DJI’s proprietary spray tank and intelligent spraying technology. It minimizes chemical use by detecting crop density and adjust the spray output as needed. The positioning system is accurate to centimetre-level readings as it features a real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning system.
With a maximum spray width of up to 11 meters, the Agras T40 can cover over 20 hectares of farmland in 1 day. It can also spread dry material such as seeds and pellet fertilizers with a maximum load of 50kg.
It’s capable of flying for up to 18 minutes on a single battery charge, and can be controlled using the DJI Agras app on a mobile device or through a compatible remote controller.
Agras T40 Specifications
Spray Tank and Intelligent spraying technology
The DJI Agras T40 agricultural drone is equipped with a high-capacity spray tank and intelligent spraying technology that allows farmers to precisely apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to their crops.
The Agras T40’s spray tank has a maximum spray load capacity of 40kg or 50L allowing farmers to cover large areas of land without needing to stop and refill the tank frequently. The tank is made of materials that are resistant to corrosion and UV radiation to withstand the harsh environmental conditions in agriculture.
The spreading system for dry materials can carry a volume of up to 70L or 50kg weight. The spray width of seed or fertiliser pellets is 7m maximum.
What is the Intelligent Spray Technology on the DJI Agras T40?
The intelligent spraying technology of the Agras T40 allows for precision application of chemicals to crops and automatically tailor the spray pattern to account for the shape of the crop.
Features:
- Adjustable spray angles on the nozzles
- Range of droplet sizes; interchangeable nozzles
- Automatic spray distance adjustment based on the drone’s position
- Crop shape identification to amend the spray pattern as needed
- Centimetre level precision even in complex terrains
The overall goal of the intelligent spraying system on the DJI Agras T40 is to deliver an efficient and accurate spray application and adapt on the fly to changes in conditions. By reducing chemical use and improving crop coverage and quality, the Agras T40 can help farmers to maximize their yields and protect the environment.
Maximum Spray Capacity and Spray Width
The drone is capable of spraying a wide range of seed, pesticides and fertilizers, and has different nozzle configurations that can be adjusted to achieve different levels of spray coverage and droplet size.
This is achieved with two different systems; the spreading system (dry material) and the spraying system (liquids).
The Agras T40 can distribute seed or dry pellets from 0.5-5mm in size including rice, grass seed and canola. The spreading system has a maximum spreading width of 7m. Liquids are sprayed at a rate of up to 6 litres per minute, with a maximum spraying width of 11 meters.
Spraying Capacity:
- Maximum spray tank capacity (liquid): 70L / 40kg
- Maximum spray width: 11m
- Coverage: Over 21 hectares of farmland per hour or 4 hectares of orchards for hour
Spreading Capacity:
- Maximum spreading tank capacity (dry material):50kg
- Maximum spray width: 7m
- Coverage: 1.5 tonnes of fertilizer per hour
Agras T40 Spray Tank Capacity
| Spray Tank Capacity | 70L / 40kg |
| Maximum spray width | 11m |
| Coverage | Over 21 hectares of farmland per hour or 4 hectares of orchards for hour |
Agras T40 Spreading Tank Capacity
| Spreading Tank Capacity (dry material) | 50kg |
| Maximum spray width | 7m |
| Coverage Rate | 1.5 tonnes of fertilizer per hour |
Spraying Modes
There are 5 spraying modes designed for different field sizes and types:
- Route: The route spray mode is recommended for large fields. The app will automatically generate a flight path after its provided a boundary, flight parameters and obstacle locations.
- A-B Mode: This is a pre-planned path that is best for large triangular or rectangular fields. Each point is manually recorded and the heading or direction from the point can be manually adjusted.
- Manual Operation Mode: The drone operation is completely controlled by the drone pilot and no automation or pre-designed flight path is used. Sometimes manual operation is best for small fields
- Manual Plus Operation Mode: This locks the direction of the drone to give a straight flight path but the rest of the controls are still manually adjusted.
- Fruit Tree: In this mode the center of the trees is defined and the spray direction is targeted toward the center of the tree as the drone flies past.
The Agras T40 is designed to optimize spray efficiency while minimizing waste and environmental impact. Its intelligent spraying system uses real-time data to adjust the spray output and reduce overlap and drift, resulting in more precise and uniform application of chemicals.
Maximum Flight Time and Range
The DJI Agras T40 can hover for up to 18 minutes depending on the payload and flight conditions. The controller has a life of 3 hours, 18 minutes but has can also fit an external battery to extend this.
- Maximum speed: 10m/s
- Max wind resistance 6m/s (It’s important not to spray in winds greater than this speed)
Max altitude 4500 above sea level
Range: 2000m
Camera Specifications
The camera on the DJI Agras T40 is is 12MP UHD. It supports first person view up to 7km from the controller.
The camera can be used to capture multi-spectral data to plan the fertilization distribution tailored to the field. In mapping operation mode the app automatically creates a flight path once the boundary is defined. Additional way points can be added to the route to edit the flight path. After flying the route the images are stitched together to create an up to date orthomosaic map to assist with field management planning.
Water Resistance
The Agras T40 has an IP rating of 67 which means the drone is waterproof and can be washed down with water after use. Unlike the DeltaOne Fixed Wing Drone the Agras T40 is not designed to be flown in the rain or snow.
Pros and Cons of the Agras T40
Benefits
- Minimized chemical use and environmental impact: Compared to standard agricultural drones, the ability of the Agras T40 to adjust to real time data and adjust the spray output reduces the amount of chemicals wasted due to over spraying and ensures that crops are treated effectively.
- Reduced labor and time required for crop spraying: Manual crop spraying by hand is physically demanding and time consuming, not to mention the potential hazard of direct inhalation of chemicals.
The Agras T40 can autonomously plan and execute its missions, meaning it doesn’t require a pilot to manually fly it, reducing the need for human labor and increasing efficiency. This, combined with the coverage of over 21 hectares per hour significantly reduces the labor and time required for crop spraying, enabling farmers to be more productive and efficient in their operations.
- Improved productivity and efficiency : Compared to other methods of agricultural spraying, the Agras T40 covers more area with less effort. The coverage is more efficient than manned aircraft which can’t penetrate the top canopy and more adaptable than ground based machine application which is height limited.
- Increased crop yield and quality: Better crop monitoring achieved by the Agras T40 ultimately ensures that the correct amount of fertilizers are applied. Smaller plants can be spot treated leading to crop uniformity and higher quality produce.
Overall, the DJI Agras T40 can help increase crop yield and quality by enabling farmers to apply chemicals more precisely and uniformly, monitor crops more effectively, and carry out spraying operations more efficiently.
Downsides
While it has many benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to consider. Here are a few cons of the DJI Agras T40:
- High Cost: The DJI Agras T40 is an expensive drone compared to many other agricultural drones on the market, which may make it prohibitive for some farmers who are on a tight budget.
- Limited Payload Capacity: While the DJI Agras T40 has a good payload capacity for a drone its size, it doesn’t compare to the amounts able to be carried by ground based spraying machines and manned aircraft.
- Flight Time: The DJI Agras T40 maximum flight time is 18 minutes, fields over 4000 square meters will require additional batteries and charging times, which may impact productivity. The recharge time however is only 9 minutes.
Agras T40 Alternatives
- Yamaha RMAX: The Yamaha RMAX is a popular helicopter style agricultural drone that has been in use for many years. It is known for its durability, reliability, and ability to carry large payloads.
- XAG P series: XAG’s P series of agricultural drones includes the P10 and P30, which are designed for precision spraying and mapping applications. They are equipped with advanced sensors and can cover up to 60 acres per day.
Above: Yamaha RMAX, an alternative to the DJI Agras T40.
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