Test drive the Case IH P150 drone – A 24-hour challenge

Our team's expectations rise when tests include launches or even technological innovations, but this time we surpassed ourselves. If we had known it would be as big as it actually was, that expectation would have turned into tension and nervousness. From Água Boa, in the state of Mato Grosso, we traveled to Agropecuária Jerusalém to witness something unprecedented: a 24-hour challenge of uninterrupted application with the Case IH P150 drone.

The municipality of Água Boa is located in eastern Mato Grosso, within the region known as the Araguaia Valley, near the Serra do Roncador mountain range. Leaving the city, one sees beautiful landscapes, typical of the Brazilian Midwest, the main center of strong agribusiness activity.

Agropecuária Jerusalém is also known as the Case IH Connected Farm, as it hosts a pioneering project of the brand, being a model of 100% connectivity, representing one of the values ​​of Case IH's Digital Agriculture.

What is understood by Digital Agriculture or Agriculture 4.0 is a technological transformation that has emerged in recent years, equivalent to what happened with industry in the last decade. A series of advances began with the arrival of digitalization in the agricultural production process, mainly aiming to integrate agricultural activities into a modern world, bringing together concepts of artificial intelligence with an environment interconnected by the global network.

There are no limits to the grouping of different worlds and scenarios, where artificial intelligence and electronics come together to use sensors, actuators, software, etc., with the available resources of geolocation and geoprocessing. For this, connectivity is mandatory, and the availability of information generation by agricultural machines leads us to more futuristic, but no less possible, concepts such as those established in the use of the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and other recent advances. The future is happening now, and drones for agricultural use, especially those intended for the application of agricultural inputs, are now commercially available.

The Case IH team's idea to subject one of their commercial machines to this intense 24-hour field work routine, with the support of technicians of different profiles, including ours, was brilliant.

The idea was to consider the entire ecosystem involved in this type of activity and analyze the equipment's performance, without worrying about evaluating any aspect of application technology, which is somewhat known and continues to be the focus of Case IH's engineering work.

The target parameters evaluated in this demanding journey were related to energy consumption, the work productivity of the Case IH P150 Drone, and the maintenance of operational stability over time.

Our task is to tell our readers and followers every detail of this company's proposal to evaluate the maximum performance of the brand's largest drone, launched in 2025, and for which the Case IH technical team planned this interesting evaluation, which turned into the idea of ​​the 24-hour challenge.

Advanced technology

We are currently experiencing a technologically far more advanced generation of drones compared to the initial stage just a few years ago. The equipment has been greatly developed and features far superior modern features, enabling it to meet the requirements of agricultural operations, making it possible to compare its work to that of ground-based machinery, even modern ones.

The Case IH P150 drone, which we analyzed in the challenge, performs real-time three-dimensional terrain mapping with geoprocessing tools, and can automate flight paths and maneuvers. It has a 4D terrain imaging radar that facilitates the detection of obstacles and area boundaries, and corrects flight altitude when there is terrain slope. The detection range is quite wide, varying from 1,5 m to 100 m, with a horizontal field of view of ± 40° and a vertical field of view ranging from + 90° to - 45°. One aspect we valued in the equipment is its ability to orient itself towards the departure direction upon returning to base, improving operational efficiency.

Primarily in plots where the edges are bordered by trees, the obstacle avoidance distance is close to 2,5 meters, that is, the distance between the tip of the propeller and the obstacle after the drone brakes and stabilizes its flight in a fixed position. It detects an obstacle at enormous speed, using the boundary position, its distance, the direction of movement, and the relative speed between them as detection parameters.

Regarding the power system, the P150 Case IH uses two intelligent lithium-ion batteries, with a charging capacity of 1.500 cycles, a nominal power output of 48,75 volts (V), a maximum charging current of 100 amperes (A), and a nominal capacity of 20.000 mAh. The commercial equipment is supplied with six batteries in the Basic kit and eight batteries in the Full kit. The battery is considered intelligent because the number of charging cycles adds up, so that each cycle represents a 100% charge; therefore, even if the battery is not fully charged or if charging begins with a partial charge, it will only complete and count as a full charge cycle.

During the test, the batteries were charged at the fixed station and simultaneously cooled. It is known that batteries lose efficiency when heated; therefore, while they were being charged, a cooler created a mist, which is the simplest way to exchange heat, since another system, based on immersion, could damage connectors. The battery cooling tower has a capacity of four liters of water, and the consumption is half a liter per hour of cooling.

The equipment

Case IH officially launched its Application Drone during Agrishow 2025 as a complementary solution to its Patriot sprayer line. Imported and distributed in Brazil by the brand, it offers two models: a 30-liter (P60) and a 70-liter (P150), with full brand support through more than 180 service points in its dealer network.

The equipment used in the 24-hour challenge is the Case IH P150 drone, an aircraft with A55 propulsion motors providing a nominal power of 4.700 watts (W), configured for two distinct operations: the Revocast 4, a solid product distribution system weighing 58 kg, and the RevoSpray 4, a spraying system weighing 54 kg. Both versions can carry up to 70 kg of product, reaching a maximum weight of 125 kg under takeoff conditions for spraying. The RevoSpray 4 unit has dimensions in its working position of 3.110 x 3.118 x 764 mm and can be repackaged for transport, resulting in smaller dimensions of 1.072 x 1.102 x 788 mm by articulating the propellers and arms, allowing it to be transported in a small pickup truck. For those unfamiliar with such equipment, its size and functionality are quite impressive. The product tank has a maximum capacity of 70 liters, and the aircraft is equipped with two atomizing nozzles, driven by flexible rotary pumps that rotate at speeds ranging from 1.500 rpm to a maximum of 16.000 rpm. The spray pattern, which depends on the flight altitude, ranges from 5 m to 10 m. The pumps individually operate at flow rates of 0,5 to 15 l/min, which can generate a total flow rate of up to 30 l/min. Application quality information indicates a variable droplet size from 60 to 400 micrometers (µm). The maximum uninterrupted flight distance is 2.000 m, the maximum flight speed during application is 65 km/h, and the maximum altitude is 30 m.

It is important to emphasize that drones used in agriculture are unmanned aerial vehicles, for which there is relevant legislation that must be complied with. Therefore, the pilot must demonstrate training in the Training Course for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operators (CAAR) and be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). The owner must only use equipment approved by the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) and register it with the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). Furthermore, it is mandatory to have third-party liability insurance. SIPEAGRO, from MAPA, is an application of the Integrated System of Agricultural Products and Establishments, where the drone owner must register.

The operation in the challenge

Upon arriving at the Case IH Connected Farm and meeting the team that would be participating in the challenge, we already knew it was going to be something big. The enormous number of people and companies involved in such a serious and well-organized event gave us the impression that we would arrive at the end with a great deal of information.

After a brief briefing with the teams, we were able to learn details about both the equipment and what was planned for the two days dedicated to the event.

The Case IH team of experts proposed subjecting the equipment to continuous 24-hour operation and verifying operational aspects, durability, and consistency of functioning, evaluating the equipment's maximum performance, with the expectation of quantifying the area that can be covered in 24 hours.

For this purpose, 17 plots of the farm were chosen, with characteristics that could represent the area, totaling just over 1.000 ha. Initially, an operational capacity of over 30 ha/h was projected, with an application rate of 10 l/ha. To optimize the work, it was necessary to balance the volume of liquid in the tank with the battery life; therefore, it was decided to use a charge of 55 l to 65 l per refill and return the drone to base when the battery charge reached a minimum of 10%, ensuring a safe return. With this performance test, the company aims to obtain reliable data on battery life, under load and area (hectares), as well as the actual area that can be treated with a full tank under operational conditions.

In an impeccably organized manner, the test was structured to generate numerous data points during the 24-hour flight, with real-time monitoring by the entire team and us as observers. Two fixed structures were used, one operational and the other a backup, where the team, pilots, and assistants were located, and which were moved to better meet operational parameters and for signal reception and transmission. Three teams were formed under the leadership of the pilots, with assistants – who were responsible for refueling, battery changes, and charging and cooling the batteries that would be removed from the equipment at each pit stop. To reduce the operator's influence, each team worked four hours continuously and alternated in shifts. In this way, all pilots worked in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

It became clear that the primary goal was to obtain realistic field data, using a strategy to match the optimal battery charging conditions with the volume of water available in the tank.

The team leaders were drone pilots Thamylon Camilo Dias, Elias Giacomel, and Alan Preuss, a drone pilot and precision agriculture specialist at Agritex, considered among the best drone pilots in the country. Throughout the test period, assistants Alessandro, Jorge, Eduardo, and Samuel were in charge of support activities.

Furthermore, Case IH provided a team, and specialists Everton Fim, Alberto Maza, and Rudney Neves remained throughout the test, providing equipment support and supplying information and, if necessary, maintenance items. Maycon Nicoletti, an agronomist from the Case IH Connected Farm, was with the pilots the entire time.

With everything organized, teams defined, and equipment ready, the caravan moved to one of the areas, using the strategy of starting with the areas furthest from the Experience Center at the farm headquarters, where the operation was centralized, and then, at the end, applying the techniques to the areas closest to the Center.

The setup and strategy for achieving the best results in this 24-hour challenge, previously proven for this activity, were based on the following pillars: an application rate of 8 l/ha, a 12 m application swath, an approximate flight height between 4 m and 4,5 m above ground level, and an average drone speed between 62 km/h and 64 km/h. The work consisted of applying liquid, in this case water, to a flat surface of soil covered with straw, remaining from the last corn harvest.

The operation required an application time, which depended on the liquid level in the tank and the battery life, with a planned "pit stop" for battery replacement and tank recharging. In this sense, the work of the assistants was fundamental to achieving high operational efficiency. The base was positioned so that it could serve two adjacent plots without needing to move the structure.

Also, as a safety strategy, routes were marked that would be blocked during the drone's passage and for the spraying team's work. Thus, a protocol of activities to be followed was established, outlining each person's role to better carry out the work.

The great challenge

When the time for the challenge arrived, the teams prepared themselves and, at 8:48 AM on October 14, 2025, the drone began its movement and remained in operation for exactly 24 hours. On average, the drone stayed in the air for around seven and a half minutes, with autonomy values ​​varying between seven and nine minutes, including application time plus return time to base. After landing, as soon as the propellers stopped spinning, the support team replaced the two batteries and refilled the fuel tank. This pit stop time was approximately 40 to 48 seconds until the start of takeoff again. The different support teams demonstrated that they had been well trained and performed both functions with great regularity. 

The pilot was permanently in control of the operation using the XAG SRC4 intelligent remote control, which has a signal range of up to 2.000 meters under optimal conditions, free from obstacles and interference. This control is compatible with both the Case IH P150 and the other model, the Case IH P60.

Operational efficiency

Considering that the concept of operational capacity is the ratio between the area worked per unit of time and operational efficiency is the percentage of time spent exclusively on the application, in relation to the total time spent on the operation, it was possible to analyze the drone's performance during these 24 hours of operation in the challenge.

Analyzing the operation as a whole, there are several factors directly related to the operation that are intrinsic to the work; for example, it is impossible to operate this equipment without considering refueling, maneuvering, and returning to base empty as mandatory procedures.

It is noticeable that there is a need to reduce speed during maneuvers, and it is also considerable that the length of the paths between maneuvers matters a lot, because the longer they are, the more time the equipment operates fully in relation to the total time. In this case, analyzing the data at the time of the challenge, we observed that the uninterrupted path lengths varied, on average, between 490 m, 890 m and 1.100 m, in the real case. Considering then an average speed of 62 km/h and an application swath of 12 m, the real performance data indicated a flight time efficiency of 78%, with losses of 9% in pit stops for refueling and battery replacement, and 12% losses due to logistics activities. Therefore, considering that part of the flight includes returning to base empty, an operational efficiency of around 72% can be inferred, proving the operational gains of the drone for this application.

The time-related factors we observed during the test were related to speed variation, maneuvering time, empty travel time, changing the position of the support structure, overlap between passes (minimal and controllable), refueling time, and battery changes, among others inherent to the location where the equipment will be working. It should be noted that the field conditions included in this challenge were all real, with several short routes, which increases the representativeness of maneuvering in the total time.

Thus, it was found that the equipment can cover between 44 ha/h and 45 ha/h, with usual values ​​around 42 ha/h, and an application area of ​​over 1.000 ha can be expected in an uninterrupted 24-hour period, under maximized area format and logistics conditions.

The manufacturer's data indicates more modest figures for an operational capacity of 26 ha/h in spraying, applying around 30 l/ha and a 9 m application width, at a speed of 65 km/h. In the solid spreader, the production capacity is up to 2.167 kg/h, considering a dose of 300 kg/ha, with a deposition swath of 6,8 m wide at the same speed of 65 km/h.

Obviously, the challenge data is greater because, in addition to working with a wider application width and higher flight height, the amount of product was lower, around 8 l/ha. One of the purposes of the test was to subject the equipment to an external situation, to see the maximum operating conditions.

From the start of the challenge, the target operational capacity was to apply the pesticide to 44 hectares per hour, but in reality, the actual variation was 37 ha/h and 47 ha/h, respectively, the lowest and highest.

Physical support structures

Two centralized work structures were made available, one as the main structure and another as a backup, which would only be used when necessary and, mainly, in the final areas.

Each of these structures consisted of a trailer-type vehicle containing battery chargers, coolers, a Buffalo water pump, and a platform for the driver. In front of this structure was mounted a station with an RTK antenna. To power the chargers, the main structure had two Toyama XP generators, used simultaneously for charging and cooling the batteries.

During the challenge, a total of 12 batteries were used: two in the drone, four charging or cooling, and six as backup. Commercial equipment is supplied with six batteries in the Basic kit and eight batteries in the Full kit.

The drone landing strip was marked out next to the structure and was the location for pit stops, where batteries were replaced and the liquid tank was refilled. This area was constantly irrigated to reduce the exposure of the equipment and assistants to dust during takeoff and landing. Although the structures had a platform for the pilot with an antenna, it was decided to pilot from the ground, with the pilot coordinating their support team.

Every time it was necessary to move the structure from one location to another, the equipment had to be configured, the information for the new area had to be retrieved, and the RTK station activated. Incidentally, as expected, the signal and connection of the Case IH Connected Farm were excellent and never hindered the challenge.

Final thoughts on the challenge

During the challenge, which consisted of 147 flights over 24 hours, 238 liters of gasoline were consumed. In a quick comparative assessment of emissions, this represents half the CO2 involved in a conventional liquid product application operation compared to a ground-based application. Obviously, there are no solid, comparable records yet to establish a record for liquid application with a drone, but an important milestone was reached, which can be considered a quite significant number.

In a total of 24 hours, an impressive area of ​​892 hectares was covered under the conditions stipulated in the challenge. A linear distance of 815 km was covered, and the total application volume reached 7.039 liters of liquid. Although this was a difficult test to repeat, few current pieces of equipment can achieve such astonishing numbers. It should be noted that the purpose of the evaluation was to test the operational capacity and flight efficiency of the equipment under challenging conditions, and that quality assessments of the equipment's application technology should continue, as is being done by the Case IH teams.

For those of us who followed the challenge from beginning to end, the enthusiasm was immense, especially seeing the determination of all the participants and, above all, their confidence in the equipment.

José Fernando Schlosser

Agricultural Machinery Testing Center - UFSM