Drones optimize results in sugarcane mills

Agriculture is increasingly adopting digital technology, as it can effectively improve productivity, increase profitability and reduce waste, in other words, manage the property.

By carrying out research and projects with rural producers, it is possible to develop specific solutions for each crop. If for rice production it is important to carry out blocking based on contour lines, for sugarcane it is essential to identify linear faults and, thus, be able to make assertive decisions in a short period of time.

In terms of technological innovation, UAVs, popularly known as drones, are the technology of the moment. The sugar and alcohol sector was one of the first to adopt them to monitor sugarcane fields and apply solutions to plants that are developing beyond expectations.

The use of this equipment in the field goes beyond monitoring: the topographic products obtained from collecting images facilitate the implementation of new cultivation areas and renovations of plots, for example.

When flying over an area, the UAV records sequential images of the region of interest, with RGB or multispectral cameras. After processing the photographs, various vegetation indices can be applied, capable of guiding rural producers to make decisions about vegetation health, soil quality, nutrition, pests, etc.

Furthermore, with RTK/PPK geographic precision technology it is possible to generate shape files for the tractors' autopilot and the application of intelligent image analysis algorithms, allowing the automated identification of rows and planting flaws.

It is estimated that agility and precision in data collection from UAVs helps sugarcane mills to improve the quality and productivity of their raw material by up to 20%.

With the use of UAV technology in agriculture, producers have greater autonomy, practicality, safety, savings, strategic and assertive decision-making in their work.