Minimizing Drift and Streaking with the Use of Application Drones
Location
Ada, Ohio
Start Date
9-12-2025 2:40 PM
End Date
9-12-2025 2:50 PM
Description
Spray drift and streaking remain critical challenges in the effective use of agricultural spray drones, with environmental and operational variables strongly influencing pesticide deposition and coverage. This study synthesizes evidence on how altitude, flight speed, wind, temperature, and humidity affect spray performance across crops such as cotton, soybean, and sugarcane. Altitude demonstrated the strongest influence on drift and streaking in cotton, where lower flight heights (1.2 m) achieved significantly higher spray deposition (10.10 L/ha) and coverage (2.75%) compared to 3 m and 6 m, indicating increased drift and reduced canopy penetration at greater heights. No significant altitude effects were observed for soybean and sugarcane under the tested conditions, highlighting crop- specific aerodynamic responses. Flight speed further contributed to streaking patterns, with slower speeds improving deposition uniformity by reducing turbulence and allowing more consistent spray distribution, while higher speeds intensified drift potential. Wind conditions exerted substantial impact, where each 1 m/s increase in wind speed raised drift by 0.94% per meter, and crosswinds or headwinds increased battery load and reduced operational precision. Temperature and humidity played additional roles in droplet behavior; high temperatures and low humidity accelerated evaporation, exacerbating drift, while cold conditions reduced battery efficiency by up to 40%, indirectly increasing variability in spray coverage. Temperature inversions further elevated drift risk by trapping droplets near the surface and enabling long-distance off-target movement. Collectively, these findings underscore the need for optimized operational parameters—particularly low altitudes, reduced speeds, and controlled environmental conditions—to minimize drift and streaking, improve on-target deposition, and enhance the reliability of drone-based pesticide applications.
Recommended Citation
Baumgartner, Jack, "Minimizing Drift and Streaking with the Use of Application Drones" (2025). College of Engineering Student Research Colloquium. 16.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/eng_student_research_colloquium/2025/Presentations/16
Minimizing Drift and Streaking with the Use of Application Drones
Ada, Ohio
Spray drift and streaking remain critical challenges in the effective use of agricultural spray drones, with environmental and operational variables strongly influencing pesticide deposition and coverage. This study synthesizes evidence on how altitude, flight speed, wind, temperature, and humidity affect spray performance across crops such as cotton, soybean, and sugarcane. Altitude demonstrated the strongest influence on drift and streaking in cotton, where lower flight heights (1.2 m) achieved significantly higher spray deposition (10.10 L/ha) and coverage (2.75%) compared to 3 m and 6 m, indicating increased drift and reduced canopy penetration at greater heights. No significant altitude effects were observed for soybean and sugarcane under the tested conditions, highlighting crop- specific aerodynamic responses. Flight speed further contributed to streaking patterns, with slower speeds improving deposition uniformity by reducing turbulence and allowing more consistent spray distribution, while higher speeds intensified drift potential. Wind conditions exerted substantial impact, where each 1 m/s increase in wind speed raised drift by 0.94% per meter, and crosswinds or headwinds increased battery load and reduced operational precision. Temperature and humidity played additional roles in droplet behavior; high temperatures and low humidity accelerated evaporation, exacerbating drift, while cold conditions reduced battery efficiency by up to 40%, indirectly increasing variability in spray coverage. Temperature inversions further elevated drift risk by trapping droplets near the surface and enabling long-distance off-target movement. Collectively, these findings underscore the need for optimized operational parameters—particularly low altitudes, reduced speeds, and controlled environmental conditions—to minimize drift and streaking, improve on-target deposition, and enhance the reliability of drone-based pesticide applications.