A student of the Kalashnikov Academy, Alexander Shchepin, has developed an Albatross fixed-wing drone for identifying weeds in Udmurtia. The project is distinguished by its low cost.
One of the problems farmers face is the high cost of purchasing UAVs for agricultural work. The cost of a drone together with a ground station starts from 1 million rubles.
However, Shchepin offered a more economical option. The cost of the basic Albatross is only 20,000 rubles. Its body is made of balsa wood, carbon fiber, and Mylar film.
Characteristics of the Albatross UAV:
- Wingspan — 2 v
- Take-off weight — 1.5 kg
- Asynchronous motor with thrust
- Propeller diameter — 229 mm
- Control — manual, autonomous
- Camera with wide-angle multispectral lens
The data obtained is converted into orthophotos and a 3D model of the landscape using special software. The UAV can also be used as a flying weather station.