Definition and classification of plant protection UAVs

Plant protection UAV is a UAV used to protect agricultural and forestry plants. The UAV consists of a flight platform (fixed-wing, helicopter, multi-axis aircraft), navigation flight control and spraying mechanism. It can be sprayed with chemicals, seeds, powders, etc. Flight control by ground remote control or navigation.

The development of UAVs in China started relatively late, but the development is rapid. At present, plant protection UAVs sold in China are divided into two categories: oil-driven UAVs and electric UAVs.

Development policy of plant protection UAV industry

The UAV plant protection operation has the characteristics of precision, high efficiency, environmental protection, intelligence and simple operation. In addition, due to its small size, light weight, convenient transportation, and flexible flight control, plant protection UAVs have good applicability for different plots and crops. Therefore, in recent years, the state has introduced many policies to support the development of agricultural, forestry and plant protection drones.

Development status of UAV industry

Plant protection UAV market scale expansion

The market size of China’s plant protection UAV has been increasing year by year, reaching 4.66 billion yuan in 2019. Under the influence of the epidemic, spring farming, 5G and other factors, plant protection UAVs broke out again in 2020, with the market size increasing to 6.79 billion yuan. The China Institute of Commercial Industry predicts that the market size of plant protection drones in China will reach 9.561 billion yuan in 2021.

Plant protection drones face the problem of profit

With the advantages of technology, policy and market, the development will enter a high-speed stage. But the plant protection UAV industry has to face the problem of profit. At present, many plant protection UAV manufacturers are in the state of “losing money and making money”. Companies spend a lot of money on product research and development, but only “pure investment without return”.

The national level attaches great importance to the technology, talent and capital reinforcement of plant protection UAVs, and has issued a series of policies to help enterprises solve product and capital problems. In the future, plant protection UAV enterprises will strengthen product promotion, accelerate personnel training, and accelerate service improvement. Plant protection UAV enterprises will be rapidly popularized and are expected to achieve rapid profits.