DJI drops new AGRAS T20 sprayer drone

Drone expert DJI has unveiled its latest agricultural drone designed for spraying applications that is packed with plenty of smart features in addition to offering a higher payload capacity.

The AGRAS T20 can carry a maximum payload of 20kg, and the layout of the nozzles have been optimized to achieve a 20 per cent improvement on the uniformity of spray droplets over the T16 model, DJI said.

It also has an effective spray width of 7m, a slight improvement on the T16’s 6.5m.

The DJI AGRAS T20 is equipped with eight nozzles and high-volume pumps that can spray at a rate of up to 6l/min. A new 4-channel electromagnetic flow meter design allows the AGRAS T20 to monitor and control the four hoses individually, ensuring an efficient flow rate for each nozzle.

The machine has a modular design that folds and unfolds in seconds, allowing it to be easily transported and deployed from field to field.

What really sets the AGRAS T20 apart is the amount of smart technology incorporated into the machine.

It features an Omnidirectional Digital Radar system capable of detecting obstacles from all horizontal directions. It can also automatically circumvent obstacles while flying over various terrains, ensuring a high level of operational safety.

The AGRAS T20 has an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of 67, meaning it is highly resistant to dust and water. Coupled with the innovative radar system, the AGRAS T20 can fly safely and securely even in challenging weather conditions, DJI said.

Another standout feature is the AGRAS T20’s ability to fly autonomously once a flight path is set, thanks to a built-in RTK centimeter-level positioning system and RTK dongles.

Using a new programmable DJI AGRAS Smart Controller 2.0 or the DJI AGRAS app, users can map out flight paths for the drone, set and forget and leave the drone to carry out its spraying.

For navigating more challenging terrain, users can use the Phantom 4 RTK product by DJI to first map out a 3D flight route to identify all aspects of the field, and then use the AGRAS T20 to fly over the different terrains accordingly for an accurate spraying application.

In Orchard mode 3.0, 3D flight routes can be generated based on the shapes of each tree after they are identified.

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The AGRAS Smart Controller 2.0 comes with an ultra-bright 5.5-inch display that remains readable even under direct sunlight, DJI said. It also supports external battery packs and can last twice as long as other remote controllers, DJI added.

The AGRAS T20 also has a real-time FPV camera and two searchlights, providing users with comprehensive live views even during low-light operations.

DJI added the AGRAS T20 can be used in conjunction with its other ag-spec machines such as the P4 Multispectral and Phantom 4 RTK for a complete precision ag solution. For example, the P4 Multispectral can be used to scan target areas and generate multispectral charts that provide actionable insights into crop health and help formulate variable spraying and seeding maps.

The DJI AGRAS T20 is currently available for pre-orders. For more details, visit dji.com/au/t20.