Analysis of using unmanned aerial vehicles in agriculture

The article considers the types of unmanned aerial vehicles and analyzes their distinctive design features as well as the possibility of applying them in agriculture. There have been described their advantages and disadvantages. An attempt has been made to classify the production processes that are performed when applying unmanned aerial vehicles in the production of crop and livestock products. There has been conducted an analysis of technological operations involving drones that allow farmers to significantly improve the efficiency of agricultural production. The possibility of applying unmanned aerial vehicles for the combined operation of machine-tractor units and agricultural machines is considered in order to increase their efficiency and increase labor productivity when performing technological operations, such as plowing, cultivating, disking, sowing and rolling, etc. There have been described one of the types of basic tillage and analyzed the studies in the field of the effect of moisture on soil resistivity and traction during plowing. There has also been analyzed the effect of soil moisture on specific fuel consumption. The article presents the calculated dependences proving that the agrophysical conditions of the surface layer of the soil affect the energy costs when performing mechanized works by a machine and tractor unit during deep tillage. It has been established that an increase in the efficiency of the machine and tractor unit by reducing energy costs while performing agricultural works on the main tillage is provided with soil moisture in the range of 15-23%. It is proposed to monitor the agrophysical conditions of the soil surface, in terms of determining its moisture content, to be carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles. Possible factors holding back their use to improve the efficient operation of machine and tractor units are indicated.