Agricultural drones are becoming more and more widely used. The motor is one of the propulsion systems of agricultural drones, so how much do we know about them? This article helps you understand agricultural drone motors and teaches you how to choose agricultural drone motors and how to maintain them.
What is an Agriculture Drone Motor?
Simply put, agricultural drones motors are specialized components designed to power drones used in farming and agricultural management. These motors are tailored to meet the unique demands of agricultural applications, such as spraying, monitoring, and planting.
Motors are crucial in agricultural drones as they directly influence the drone's flight performance, stability, and efficiency. The right motors ensure the operation of drones and guarantee personal property since the value is relatively high.
Why are Motors Important in Agricultural Drones?
Drone technology can be applied to farmland inspections, providing high-resolution aerial images to help farmers accurately observe the status of farmland, also, a drone equipped with a spraying system, can improve the uniformity of pesticide spraying and reduce the waste of pesticides and water resources.
The UAV propulsion system is the head of the UAV. To be precise, it is the core of controlling the UAV. As one of the propulsion systems, the stability of the motor's performance is directly related to the stability of the flight and safe operations.
Due to the operating characteristics of agricultural drones, they must carry a large amount of liquid, resulting in a larger fuselage and a higher value for the drone, a good drone motor can protect the value of your drone and maximize its operating capabilities.
How Do Motor Specifications Affect the Performance of Agriculture Drones?
In the last few blogs, we introduced how to choose drone motors, and you need to check the corresponding specifications to know your final choice. So how do we choose the right motor for agricultural drones? How do motors specifications affect the performance of agriculture drones? Different from other drones, we need to focus on the following specifications:
IP rating
Some drone’s specifications will be marked with IP protection level(IP rating). Do you know what the IP rating represents?
The first digit indicates the range of the device's resistance to dust or the degree to which people are protected from harm in a sealed environment. It refers to the level of protection against the entry of solid foreign objects. The highest level is 6.
The second digit indicates the device's waterproofing degree, which refers to the level of protection against water intrusion. The highest level is 8
Which means, If your agriculture drone needs to be exposed to a lot of water, you must choose a motor with a relatively high waterproof level so that the drone can operate well as a whole.
For example, the protection level of DJI drones is IPX6, You can see that its waterproof level is 6.
Efficient
Highly efficient motors utilize battery power more effectively, leading to longer flight times. This is crucial for agricultural drones that need to cover large areas without frequent recharging or battery swaps.
Thrust
Thrust of motor, generally, drone motor manufacturers will display the thrust of the motor at different throttles. Based on the thrust of your operating drone, calculate the thrust required for each motor, and operate it at the recommended throttle.
For example, your drone's pulling force needs to reach 40kg. If it is divided into four axes and four motors, your motor pulling force needs to reach 10kg each.
Heat dissipation
The heat dissipation system of the motor directly affects the flight performance of the drone. Excessive motor temperature may lead to unstable flight conditions and overload operation, causing damage to the motor.
Because agricultural drones are generally relatively heavy, the load on the motor is very high, and a motor with good heat dissipation is required to assist the work. Therefore, in the product introduction, please choose a high-temperature-resistant drone motor configuration, and promptly ask the manufacturer about the performance of the motor in this regard.
T-MOTOR is a professional drone propulsion system manufacturer. To learn more about and develop solutions, please visit: https://uav-en.tmotor.com/
In summary, the choice of motor in agricultural drones directly impacts their effectiveness in various tasks. IP rating, efficiency, thrust, and heat dissipation performance are essential for optimal performance, especially in demanding agricultural environments. These factors must be carefully considered when selecting motors for agricultural drones to ensure they meet the specific needs of agricultural applications.
What is the Ideal Motor Size for Agriculture Drones?
The stator sizes of drone motors on the market range from 60mm to 100mm. The ideal size of the motor depends on the relative situation. If your drone frame is relatively large, it is recommended to equip the largest motor within the appropriate range. How to choose the right motor please refer to the previous article:
https://www.t-drones.com/blog/what-motors-are-used-in-drones.html
What are the Maintenance Requirements for Agriculture Drone Motors?
The maintenance of each motor is similar, but the difference between agricultural drones is that they often come into contact with liquids, which may be corrosive. Therefore, compared with ordinary drone motors, we need to do the following in terms of maintenance:
1.Regular Cleaning: Agriculture drones are often exposed to dust, liquids, and possibly chemicals, soapy water or soapy powder water needs to be used in time after each operation. Clean the motor, especially the parts of the spray system.
2.Inspection for Wear and Tear: Regularly inspect the motors for signs of wear and tear. This includes checking for any loose components, misalignment, or damage to the motor casing. Turn the motor to see if there are any abnormal noises or stuck rotation, and check whether the bearings are shaking or empty.
3.Temperature Management: Avoid running the motors continuously for extended periods, as excessive heat can cause damage. Make the motors stop for a while, and allow the motors to cool down between flights.
4.Professional Servicing: For complex issues or regular check-ups, professional servicing is recommended. This ensures that any underlying issues are identified and addressed by experts.
Timely Adherence to these maintenance practices will help prolong the life of the motors and maintain the efficiency and reliability of the agricultural drones.
What Technological Advancements Are There in Agriculture Drone Motors?
Agricultural UAV motors must meet: reliable thrust and stable flight. Some motor advantages can help agricultural UAVs achieve this very well.
Powerful and efficient
Weight decrease is achieved by optimizing stator structure while maintaining its mechanical strength.
Low noise, stable and reliable
A unique and advanced groove-pole matching structure can reduce the vibration generated by the motor during operation, reduce motor losses, extend the life and reduce noise, and the pulling force ratio under the maximum throttle will be more stable and reliable than the general groove-pole matching.
Strength tough
Optimize the click structure and processing accuracy, strengthen the protection of the core components of the motor, and effectively avoid local heating caused by collision or falling, resulting in unusability.
Coils resistant to corrosion
There is a special coating on the surface of the coil, which can effectively prevent corrosion of the coil by pesticides. This computer is also very important for agricultural drones.
FAQs
What impact do motors have on the payload capacity of agriculture drones?
The choice of motor directly affects the overall pulling force of the drone. Generally speaking, a larger motor with larger blades will have greater thrust, and a smaller motor with smaller blades will have a smaller pulling force.
How do motor characteristics affect the flight time of agriculture drones?
There is no direct relationship between the motor and the flight time of the drone, but factors such as motor efficiency, and power consumption can indirectly affect the flight time. Efficient motors make better use of battery power, allowing for longer flight times. Choosing a motor that balances power and energy efficiency is also critical to maximizing flight time.
What are the challenges in designing motors for agriculture drones?
Integration with flight control systems is currently a big challenge, motors must be designed to integrate seamlessly with the drone's flight control systems for precise maneuvering and stability, which is crucial for tasks like targeted spraying. Secondly, durability under harsh conditions, because product characteristics require exposure to chemicals, and finally noise control, ensuring that the volume does not disturb nearby residents or livestock.
