The Use of Drones in Agriculture: Perspectives and Limitations

The use of computer-aided techniques in farm management, including for performing agricultural practices, known as precision agriculture, has become increasingly popular in recent years. This new and rapidly developing field allows for increased crop yields, improved crop quality, and reduced negative impact on the environment compared to conventional agriculture. A special category within precision agriculture is work performed using drones. The most common activities include monitoring crop health using multispectral cameras, spraying, and seeding. This paper presents a review analysis of the use of drones in agriculture, considering both the perspectives and limitations associated with it. Drones for monitoring and mapping crops and for performing agrotechnical treatments were analyzed separately. The most important perspectives include the widespread automation associated with agricultural work and an increase in the efficiency of the work performed. Significant limitations are legal issues, the cost of purchasing equipment and the need to obtain a drone operator’s license.