Latest Drone Updates: Soaring Inspire 3 Towards the Arctic, DJI Unveils Three Agriculture Drones, and More Exciting Developments in the Sky!
DJI, the world-renowned drone manufacturer, has expanded its flagship Agras series with the launch of three new agriculture drones: the Agras T100, T70P, and T25P. This brings the total number of drones in the Agras series to 13.
The new drones are designed to cater to different farm sizes, each featuring advanced automation, high payloads, fast speeds, and enhanced obstacle avoidance systems.
The Agras T100 is DJI’s most robust agricultural drone, designed as a "flying tractor" able to carry heavy payloads, deliver sprays at high volume and speed, and incorporate cutting-edge sensing technologies for obstacle avoidance.
The T70P balances payload and advanced tech for medium-sized farms with RTK precision, while the T25P targets smaller operations like hillside orchards with tailored capabilities.
Key features and specifications of the new drones are as follows:
| Feature/Model | Agras T100 | Agras T70P | Agras T25P | |---------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | Intended use | Large-scale commercial farms | Mid-sized farms | Small farms and orchards | | Payload capacity | Up to 100 liters for spraying, 150 liters for spreading; 70 kg payload capacity noted indirectly for T70P as a comparison | 70 liters spray tank, 65 kg payload capacity | Smaller capability than T70P; specifics less detailed but suitable for solo-run orchards | | Spraying system | Up to 40 liters per minute with four-sprinkler setup; redesigned screw feeder for spreading | Capable spraying system (specific rate not detailed) | Smaller scale spraying | | Flight speed | Up to 20 m/s, twice as fast as predecessor | Moderate—faster recharge (7-9 minutes), specifics on speed not stated | Smaller and slower compared to T100 | | Obstacle avoidance | Advanced safety with LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, and Penta-Vision system (5 cameras) for high obstacle detection accuracy | RTK positioning, some advanced obstacle sensing | Suitable for hillside, possibly less advanced sensing | | Propellers & efficiency | 62-inch carbon fiber propellers improving power efficiency by 39% and propeller efficiency by 32% | Not explicitly detailed | Not explicitly detailed | | Battery charging | DB1560 Intelligent Flight Batteries with ultra-fast 9-minute air-cooled charging | Fast charging (7-9 minutes recharge time) | Likely similar fast charging | | Control | High brightness 7-inch screen remote (DJI RC Plus) powered by 8-core processor for smooth control and intelligent route planning | Similar advanced control systems | Suitable for simpler operations | | Other features | Detachable design to reduce crash costs when spreading/lifting; comprehensive safety perception for wires, poles, and high-voltage towers | RTK precise positioning for accurate farming | Smaller and ideal for precise orchard management |
In a separate development, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a sweeping directive aimed at jump-starting U.S. drone dominance. Small drones are now treated as consumables, not traditional military assets, under this new directive. The goal is to field thousands of low-cost drones integrated into every aspect of military training by 2027.
Meanwhile, the Secret Service has overhauled its approach to aerial security, rolling out a fleet of military-grade drones and establishing mobile command posts nationwide. This move is a direct response to last year’s assassination attempt on (at the time) former President Trump. The new drones are designed for real-time surveillance and threat detection, giving agents the ability to take down unauthorized drones by jamming them midair.
In the world of filmmaking, Denis Barbas, a filmmaker, released a cinematic journey to the Arctic earlier this year, using the DJI Inspire 3 for filming. Over a month-long expedition, he braved extreme cold, endless white vistas, and shifting light conditions to capture the Arctic footage. The footage was captured in 8K RAW and showcases the Inspire 3’s dynamic range and ability to capture fine details, even in low winter light.
It's currently unclear whether the new DJI agriculture drones will be available for sale in the U.S.
[1] Source: DJI Press Release [2] Source: The Verge [4] Source: TechCrunch [5] Source: CNET
- The new DJI Agras T100 drone, designed as a "flying tractor", is equipped with LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, and a Penta-Vision system for advanced safety and high obstacle detection accuracy.
- In the US, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a directive treating small drones as consumables, aiming to field thousands of low-cost drones for military training by 2027.
- The Secret Service has enhanced its aerial security with a fleet of military-grade drones, capable of real-time surveillance and threat detection, including the ability to jam unauthorized drones midair.
- An artist, Denis Barbas, used the DJI Inspire 3 for a cinematic Arctic expedition, capturing footage in 8K RAW, showcasing the drone's dynamic range and ability to capture fine details, even in low winter light.
- It remains undetermined whether the new DJI agriculture drones will be available for sale in the U.S. (Note: Source information for this sentence is not provided, but it logically follows the given context.)
