DJI Agras MG-1 vs Yamaha RMAX

For agriculture spraying it’s the new drone on the block vs the tried and true. Yamaha’s RMAX has been in production since 1997 and treats 2.4 million acres of farmland in Japan each year (2014). The dji sprayer drone MG-1 on the other hand is a newly released model from the world leader in the consumer UAV mulicopter market and is looking to capture a portion of the agriculture commercial sector. 

Looking at the below features and specifications for both AG drone you get a sense that the RMAX may be looking at some competition in the agriculture market from the dji sprayer drone MG-1.  Big differences include flight time with payloads where the RMAX has estimates of 1 hour on the gas engine while the MG-1 has 10 min on the batteries and the RMAX has a larger standard payload capacity … therefore it looks like you would be landing and changing out batteries and refilling payload more often with the MG-1, depending on the size of the spray operation.  That said, the MG-1 is a smaller, lighter vehicle and comes with DJI’s Smart flight mode.  Yamaha says the RMAX will be offered as a service and will require two individuals—one pilot‐in‐command (PIC) and one visual observer (VO)—who have both completed the Yamaha RMAX training and certification program.

Dji sprayer drone MG-1

The Agras Mg-1 is an octocopter design UAV for precision variable rate application of liquid pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, bringing new levels of efficiency and manageability to the agricultural sector with cost estimates of around $15,000.

Features and specs:

• Dimensions:
  1471mm x 1471mm x 482mm (arm unfolded, without propellers)
  780mm x 780mm x 482mm (arm folded)
• Total weight (without batteries) = 8.8 kg
• Standard takeoff weight = 22.5 kg
• Hovering time = 10 min with 22.5 kg takeoff weight
• Payload = Carry up to 10kg of liquid, including pesticide and fertilizer.
• Liquid tank capacity = 10 liters
• An area of 4,000-6,000 m² can be covered in just 10 minutes, or 40 to 60 times faster than manual spraying operations.
• Coverage of 7-10 acres per hour
• Equipment used in plant protection operations is susceptible to dust and corrosion, leading to high cost of maintenance and shortened lifespans. To counteract degradation, the MG-1 is designed with a sealed body and an efficient, integrated centrifugal cooling system. As it flies, the surrounding air enters the aircraft body via the front inlet, equipped with a triple filter system that keeps dust and particulate matter from entering. The air then passes through each of the aircraft’s arms to the motors, capturing heat from all components and the entire structure before exiting and dissipating the heat to the surrounding air. The combination of cooling and filtering increases the expected lifespan of each motor by up to three times.
• Under Smart mode, the flight can be easily planned with the press of a few buttons, without the need for mapping knowledge or other software, making the MG-1 not only the most efficient but also the most easy to use spraying solution.
• Motor arms fold inwards making the aircraft compact and easy to transport, for example in the trunk of a car. Made from high-strength carbon fiber materials, the body frame is light yet durable and able to withstand the harshest conditions.

Yamaha RMAX

The RMAX is a helicopter design UAV for precision agriculture spraying with price estimates from $80-$120,000, however, according to the company website “Yamaha will offer a service to interested growers; however, in the future we also plan to offer a lease option to growers/businesses that have the proper licenses and qualifications. Yamaha does not intend to sell the aircraft now nor in the future.”  As of 2014 there with over 2,600 vehicles operating worldwide.

Features and specs:

• RMAX helicopters are tried and trusted with haven flown more than 2 million hours
• Practical payload = 16 kg (35 lbs)
  (Performance may vary depending on environmental conditions, such as the temperature, humidity, and altitude.)
• Vehicle length = 2750 mm (108 in)
• Vehicle width = 720 mm (28 in)
• Vehicle height = 1080 mm (42.5 in)
• Liquid Sprayer Tank Capacity = 8 liters x 2 tanks
• Each operation and flight of the RMAX will require two individuals—one pilot‐in‐command (PIC) and one visual observer (VO)—who have both completed the Yamaha RMAX training and certification program.
• Flying time = about 1 hour

In 2015 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized Yamaha to operate the remotely piloted RMAX helicopter for agricultural‐related uses in the U.S.

Intelligent Agriculture is the trend of all over the world. And the intelligent drone act as a important role in this world plan.

Agriculture spraying drone can replace the traditional pesticide sprayer and it's speed is 40times of the traditional sprayer. It will save 90% water and 30%-40% pesticide. Small droplet diameter make the pesticide more well-distribute and improve the effect. At the same time, it will make the people faraway from the pesticide and reduce the pesticide remain of the crop.

Sources: Wikipedia, DJI, Yamaha
Images: Yamaha, DJI, Flydragon