Introduction

Precision agriculture continues to evolve, and aerial drone technology presents new possibilities. This document outlines a concept for integrating ABZ Innovation’s drone technology into a 250-hectare smart farm operation. Our drone solutions are designed to offer efficiency gains, potential cost savings, and support sustainable practices. This proposal details the required equipment, estimated investment strategy, operational workflow, potential return on investment (ROI) factors, and examples of real-world applications to consider when evaluating drone-based precision farming.

1. The ABZ Innovation Drone Fleet: Features and Capabilities

Our drones are designed and manufactured in the EU, CE certified, and built for agricultural applications. Key features include:

• ABZ Sense: A LiDAR system providing real-time terrain following and obstacle avoidance, facilitating operation in varied landscapes. It assists in optimizing flight paths for efficient application.

• RTK Accuracy: Both drone models integrate seamlessly with a single Emlid RTK base station, enabling centimeter-level positioning accuracy useful for precise spot spraying and pattern flying.

• Advanced Planning: Allows creation of specific flight paths using waypoints. Users can program instructions (altitude, speed, application rate) for targeted treatments, optimized orchard/vineyard navigation, compensation for uneven ground equipment coverage, and specialized greenhouse operations.

• Prescription Map Compatibility: Capable of executing spot applications for spraying and spreading based on pre-existing field data maps, allowing inputs to be applied according to defined zones.

Available Models (Relevant to this proposal):

• L10 V2:

  • Capacity: 10L spray tank / Optional 20L spreader tank.

  • Performance: Sprays up to 10 ha/hour; Spreads up to 440 kg/hour.

  • Suitable for: Smaller plots, targeted applications, supplementary tasks, specialized biological treatments, vineyard spraying.

• L30 V2:

  • Capacity: 30L spray tank / Optional 50L spreader tank.

  • Performance: Sprays up to 21 ha/hour; Spreads up to 1100 kg/hour.

  • Suitable for: Large area coverage, primary spraying/spreading tasks on farms of this scale, intensive orchard spraying, broadacre crops like sunflowers.

2. Equipment Investment Strategy for a 250ha Operation

Understanding Operational Speeds:
While catalogue data indicates maximum performance (e.g., L30 spraying up to 21 ha/hour), real-world speeds are influenced by field shape, terrain, obstacles, and refilling/battery turnaround times. A realistic estimate:

• L30 in open fields: ~15 ha/hour

• L30 in orchards or vineyards: ~5 ha/hour

• L10 will be proportionally slower

Initial Fleet Recommendation (1x L30 V2 + 1x L10 V2):

• 1 x ABZ Innovation L30 V2: For large area coverage and high-volume tasks

• 1 x ABZ Innovation L10 V2: For smaller plots, complex areas, spot spraying, biologicals, or parallel operations

Initial Investment Breakdown (RRP pricing):

• L30 V2 Package:

  • Drone: €12,900

  • 4x Batteries: €5,560

  • Charger: €1,190

  • Subtotal: €19,650

• L10 V2 Package:

  • Drone: €9,900

  • 4x Batteries: €3,000

  • Charger: €627

  • Subtotal: €13,527

• Shared Equipment:

  • 1 x Emlid RTK Base Station: €2,500

• Optional Spreaders:

  • 1 x 50L Spreader (L30): €1,600

  • 1 x 20L Spreader (L10): €1,600

  • 1 x Trichogramma Spreader (L10): €1,900

Estimated Initial Investment (1x L30 + 1x L10 + RTK):
€35,677 (excluding optional spreaders)

Scaling Strategy:
To increase capacity, the fleet can be expanded to:

• 2 x ABZ Innovation L30 V2

• 2 x ABZ Innovation L10 V2
  (One RTK base is sufficient)

Estimated Scaled Investment:
€68,854 (excluding optional spreaders)

Operational Costs (Estimates):

• L10 V2: ~€0.60/ha

• L30 V2: ~€0.90/ha
  (Traditional methods: €6–€15/ha)

3. Drone-Based Smart Farming Workflow Outline

1. Mission Planning:

   • Define field boundaries within the planning software (existing SHP files can be used)

   • Upload prescription maps (if used) for spot spraying

   • Utilize the Advanced Planning tool to create flight paths, setting parameters like altitude, speed, and application rate

2. Preparation:

   • Transport equipment (drone, batteries, liquids/granules) to the field

   • Fill the drone’s tank or spreader hopper

   • Perform standard pre-flight checks

3. Execution:

   • Launch the drone for autonomous mission execution based on the plan

   • ABZ Sense provides terrain adaptation and obstacle avoidance during flight

   • Monitor progress via the ground station controller

   • Swap batteries as needed for continuous operation

4. Post-Flight:

   • Review mission logs and application data for record-keeping

   • Perform routine equipment cleaning and battery charging

4. Potential Advantages & Return on Investment (ROI) Considerations

Resource Management:

• Water Use: Potential for significant reduction (field data shows 85–95% reduction in water carrier volume compared to traditional methods)

• Chemical Use: Up to 50% reduction through precise application and spot spraying. Biological control options further reduce chemical dependency

Crop & Soil Health:

• Reduced Soil Compaction: Drones eliminate ground machine traffic, avoiding compaction and trampling

Operational Aspects:

• Coverage Rate: 5–15 ha/hr per drone (depending on terrain), multiplied by the number of units in operation

• Operating Cost: Field data shows ~€1–2/ha for drones vs €6–15/ha for traditional

• Labor Efficiency: 0.5 workhour/ha vs 3 workhour/ha

• Accessibility & Flexibility: Operates in wet, sloped, or tight-field conditions

Precision & Sustainability:

• RTK-level accuracy

• Lower chemical/water usage

• Reduced CO₂ emissions (82% less in vineyard tests)

• Zone-specific treatments without full-field application

5. Real-World Applications & Success Stories

Tokaj Vineyards, Hungary:

• 50% lower cost, 54% less pesticide, 90% less water, 82% less CO₂

Vineyards, Portugal (L10 vs Backpack):

• Water: 60 l/ha vs 400 l/ha

• Speed: 2 ha/hr vs 0.3 ha/hr

• Cost: €2/ha vs €6/ha

• Labor: 0.5 vs 3 workhours/ha

Sunflowers, Hungary (L30 vs Tractor):

• Water: 15 l/ha vs 300 l/ha

• Speed: 25 ha/hr peak (15 avg)

• Cost: €1/ha vs €15/ha

Greenhouse Shading:

• Application time: 2 hrs/ha vs 6–8 hrs/ha

• Water: 333 l/ha vs 1000 l/ha

Citrus Spraying (L30):

• Water: 200 l/ha vs 2000 l/ha (90% saving)

• CDA system and canopy penetration optimize application (~3 ha/hr in dense crops)

Spreading (L10/L30):

• 440–1100 kg/hr with 4–9m spread width

• Covers difficult terrain, reduces labor and compaction

Biological Pest Control (Trichogramma):

• 36 ha/hr coverage

• Precise release, eco-friendly, pesticide-free

Conclusion

ABZ Innovation drones provide a powerful technological solution to enhance the efficiency, precision, and sustainability of a 250-hectare smart farm. A balanced drone fleet enables flexible, scalable operations and significant input savings. Proven field data and successful applications validate the investment. We are available to explore your specific requirements and provide tailored recommendations for drone-based agricultural solutions.