editorialteam
Well-Known Member
Invents drone to spray pesticide in 2 acre farmland in 30 minutes. Incubated at KL University, Incubation Centre
Spray pesticide in the farmland using the drone in just half an hour! It is a unique invention by Mr. Gopi Raja, a third-year BE student at KL University. Prototype 1 litre drone model was developed and successfully demonstrated in the fields. In just 7 minutes this model can cover 1 acre farmland. So far numerous field demonstrations have been given to more than 3000 farmers. This battery operated drone is based on multi rotar technology. It is uses lithium-rechargeable battery. It is monitored manually with a remote control.
As the prototype model is successful Mr. Gopi Raja steps into commercial venture with 5 liter capacity drone having advanced technical features. It would have 1000 MaH battery and operated through radio frequency. “In addition it will be completely automatic with a laptop interface. The drone will be connected to the satellite and data will be recorded in the laptop. The farmland boundaries will be mapped in the laptop and then drone would be in the air on its own. There shall be no need for any monitoring with the remote control,” he elaborates. Instead of laptop the drone can also be operated through a smart phone.
After the successful design and trials of prototype model he launched the start-up, Fopple Drone Technologies. It was incubated at University’s Innovation/Incubation/Entrepreneurship cell (KLU-IIE) in 2015 under the encouragement and guidance of KLU Vice President Mr. K Raja Hareen. KLU is located at Vaddeswaram, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Company received the seed investment from Glocal Technologies. Mr. Tarun Kakani Garu, founder is extending all possible assistance to Mr. Gopi Raja for attaining the success.
The idea was generated when Mr. Gopi Raja was in 1st year-2nd semester. The design and prototype model was ready by 2nd year-2nd semester. “All my engineering is focused exclusively on drone. I received immense support and flexibility in my academics from KLU management and faculty,” he highlights.
On being asked the drive behind drone invention he says, “I learnt the key to innovation after attending the entrepreneurial program conducted at KLU-IIE when I was in 1st semester that is ‘Solve the problem and later take it up as your entrepreneurial venture’. Hailing from agriculture based family I saw my father and uncle struggling with pesticide spray in the fields. So I wanted to make it easy for them as well as other farmers. Looking for the solution, once when I was watching some YouTube videos where pesticide was sprayed on the farmlands from helicopter, a friend sitting next to me asked, ‘When these kinds of technology will be developed and used in India?’ I got the required direction.”
At the moment budding entrepreneur is committed to serve the agriculture sector with his drone functioning for pesticide spray and land mapping. The commercial model would perform pesticide spraying in 2 acres in maximum 30 minutes. Speaking about the land mapping he explains, “We connect the drone with the laptop and operate it. The drone would check on the number of the fruits ready to be plucked from each tree. It shall inspect all the trees within the farmland area specified in its data system and would record the results in the laptop. In this way, farmer would know the exact location where the mangoes are ready for the harvest and number of fruits in each tree. This facility shall save time of farmers and improve the efficiency in harvesting.” The drone can be used in any horticulture and floriculture farms. The commercial model will be launched for sales very soon. 3 weeks is the production time for the drone.
It shall be priced within Rs. 2.5-3 lakh. Farmers would be given complete training on using and maintaining the drone by Fopple Drone Technologies. “We shall also provide the after sales services. The product is developed for solving the farming problems so we will be connected with the farmers always,” he asserts.
Mr. Gopi Raja foresee farmers pan India using his latest technology by 2018. “Therefore we have associated with NG Ranga Agricultural University to take this drone to grass root level so that every Indian farmer is able to use it,” he shares.
He concludes, “More than happy with my accomplishments, my family is extremely satisfied that I have practically learnt and used my engineering knowledge in the right way till this moment instead of restricting it to the syllabus books and grades. I am contributing my share in building the future of our nation!!”
Contact details:
Mr. Gopi Raja
K L University, Innovation/Incubation/Entrepreneurship Cell (KLU-IIE)
Fopple Drone Technologies
Room No:510,C Block,
Mobile: 09542753842
E-mail: edc@kluniversity.in, gopirajafoppleceo@gmail.com
Spray pesticide in the farmland using the drone in just half an hour! It is a unique invention by Mr. Gopi Raja, a third-year BE student at KL University. Prototype 1 litre drone model was developed and successfully demonstrated in the fields. In just 7 minutes this model can cover 1 acre farmland. So far numerous field demonstrations have been given to more than 3000 farmers. This battery operated drone is based on multi rotar technology. It is uses lithium-rechargeable battery. It is monitored manually with a remote control.
As the prototype model is successful Mr. Gopi Raja steps into commercial venture with 5 liter capacity drone having advanced technical features. It would have 1000 MaH battery and operated through radio frequency. “In addition it will be completely automatic with a laptop interface. The drone will be connected to the satellite and data will be recorded in the laptop. The farmland boundaries will be mapped in the laptop and then drone would be in the air on its own. There shall be no need for any monitoring with the remote control,” he elaborates. Instead of laptop the drone can also be operated through a smart phone.
After the successful design and trials of prototype model he launched the start-up, Fopple Drone Technologies. It was incubated at University’s Innovation/Incubation/Entrepreneurship cell (KLU-IIE) in 2015 under the encouragement and guidance of KLU Vice President Mr. K Raja Hareen. KLU is located at Vaddeswaram, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Company received the seed investment from Glocal Technologies. Mr. Tarun Kakani Garu, founder is extending all possible assistance to Mr. Gopi Raja for attaining the success.
The idea was generated when Mr. Gopi Raja was in 1st year-2nd semester. The design and prototype model was ready by 2nd year-2nd semester. “All my engineering is focused exclusively on drone. I received immense support and flexibility in my academics from KLU management and faculty,” he highlights.
On being asked the drive behind drone invention he says, “I learnt the key to innovation after attending the entrepreneurial program conducted at KLU-IIE when I was in 1st semester that is ‘Solve the problem and later take it up as your entrepreneurial venture’. Hailing from agriculture based family I saw my father and uncle struggling with pesticide spray in the fields. So I wanted to make it easy for them as well as other farmers. Looking for the solution, once when I was watching some YouTube videos where pesticide was sprayed on the farmlands from helicopter, a friend sitting next to me asked, ‘When these kinds of technology will be developed and used in India?’ I got the required direction.”
At the moment budding entrepreneur is committed to serve the agriculture sector with his drone functioning for pesticide spray and land mapping. The commercial model would perform pesticide spraying in 2 acres in maximum 30 minutes. Speaking about the land mapping he explains, “We connect the drone with the laptop and operate it. The drone would check on the number of the fruits ready to be plucked from each tree. It shall inspect all the trees within the farmland area specified in its data system and would record the results in the laptop. In this way, farmer would know the exact location where the mangoes are ready for the harvest and number of fruits in each tree. This facility shall save time of farmers and improve the efficiency in harvesting.” The drone can be used in any horticulture and floriculture farms. The commercial model will be launched for sales very soon. 3 weeks is the production time for the drone.
It shall be priced within Rs. 2.5-3 lakh. Farmers would be given complete training on using and maintaining the drone by Fopple Drone Technologies. “We shall also provide the after sales services. The product is developed for solving the farming problems so we will be connected with the farmers always,” he asserts.
Mr. Gopi Raja foresee farmers pan India using his latest technology by 2018. “Therefore we have associated with NG Ranga Agricultural University to take this drone to grass root level so that every Indian farmer is able to use it,” he shares.
He concludes, “More than happy with my accomplishments, my family is extremely satisfied that I have practically learnt and used my engineering knowledge in the right way till this moment instead of restricting it to the syllabus books and grades. I am contributing my share in building the future of our nation!!”
Contact details:
Mr. Gopi Raja
K L University, Innovation/Incubation/Entrepreneurship Cell (KLU-IIE)
Fopple Drone Technologies
Room No:510,C Block,
Mobile: 09542753842
E-mail: edc@kluniversity.in, gopirajafoppleceo@gmail.com