Forced Seeding Drone for Agriculture and Reforestation: Design, Development and Performance Evaluation

Abstract

The increasing demand for precision agriculture and rapid reforestation has created a need for efficient and economical seed dispersal systems. This paper presents the design, development, and testing of a forced seeding drone based on a carbon-fiber hexacopter platform integrated with an iris-based seed dispensing mechanism. The proposed system utilizes GPS-guided navigation, a Pixhawk flight controller, brushless motors, and a lightweight carbon-fiber structure to achieve efficient aerial seeding operations. The iris mechanism enables controlled and accurate release of seeds during flight. Experimental testing demonstrated successful flight operations and seed dispersal with an average flight endurance of approximately six minutes using a 4200 mAh Li-ion battery. The developed prototype offers a cost-effective solution for agricultural sowing and large-scale reforestation while reducing labor requirements and improving operational efficiency.