Although drift is not a new issue, it deserves further attention for Unmanned Aerial Spraying Systems (UASS). The use of UASS as a spraying tool for Plant Protection Products is currently explored and applied worldwide. They boast different benefits such as reduced applicator exposure, high operating efficiency and are unconcerned by field-related constraints (ground slope, ground resistance). This review summarizes UASS characteristics, spray drift and the factors affecting UASS drift, and further research that still needs to be developed. The distinctive features of UASS comprise the existence of one or more rotors, relatively higher spraying altitude, faster-flying speed, and limited payload. This study highlights that due to most of these features, the drift of UASS may be inevitable. However, this drift could be effectively reduced by optimizing the structural layout of the rotor and spraying system, adjusting the operating parameters, and establishing a drift buffer zone. Further efforts are still necessary to better assess the drift characteristics of UASS, establish drift models from typical models, crops, and climate environments, and discuss standard methods for measuring UASS drift.
À la suite de l'interdiction des traitements aériens en 2015, les traitements phytosanitaires dans les vignobles de forte pente sont majoritairement réalisés par des opérateurs, soumis à une pénibilité du travail importante, à des risques accrus d’exposition aux produits phytosanitaires, ainsi qu’au risque d’accidents (renversement des engins). La pulvérisation par drone pourrait constituer sur ces parcelles non mécanisables une alternative aux traitements au sol. Le projet PULVEDRONE a permis d’évaluer la qualité de pulvérisation par drone lors de 3 années d’essais de 2019 à 2021 (Ardèche, France).
Drones have many advantages over the helicopters that were used in steeply sloping vineyards before the ban on aerial spraying. They are cheaper, safer, quieter, more precise and smaller, allowing them to fly lower and thus limit aerial drift. The drone also appears to be a promising alternative to ground spraying (the only option currently authorized) in terms of operator safety and exposure.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.