Using drones against hail in areas where crops are often victims of extreme weather could be a real lifesaver.
The fight against hail and harsh weather conditions has historically posed a challenge for agricultural producers, especially in regions like San Rafael, Mendoza, where severe storms are recurrent.
In this context, a team from the National Technological University (UTN) seeks to revolutionize the system with an innovative approach. The use of these small helicopters specifically for cloud seeding.
### Drones against hail: what the project consists of
Cristian González, director of the Innovation, Engineering, and Design Laboratory at UTN San Rafael, explained that the project arises as part of the laboratory’s extension activities, recently inaugurated.
“This year we decided to focus on a flight platform that allows optimizing the autonomy and payload capacity of drones,” stated the engineer to *Diario San Rafael* and *FM Vos 94.5*.
The project, developed in three stages, aimed to maximize flight efficiency through the aerodynamic design of drones.
“We made over ten scale models to perfect the theory. The key was to displace the most amount of air possible at the lowest speed, something that significantly improves energy efficiency,” explained González.
The team’s approach included innovative solutions, such as the incorporation of fixed surfaces for lift. “Conventional drones use small rotors that need to spin very fast to achieve thrust, consuming a lot of energy,” he explained.
“We opted for larger rotors and a design that takes advantage of a fan effect to reduce energy consumption during flight,” he detailed.
The preliminary result is a drone that, although it cannot remain completely static in the air, achieves stationary flights with minimal translation, inspired by the behavior of birds like the kestrel.
The team included Juan RodrÃguez, Cris González, Nacho MartÃnez, Paulo Bru, Juan Cano, Javier Pereyra, Kaleb Vega, and Juan Pablo López.
### How will the final drone design be
Payload capacity is another highlight of the development. The final design, which is still under construction, will have a wingspan of 2.60 meters and will be able to carry up to 15 kilograms.
“It is designed to carry flares with silver iodide or other chemicals used for cloud seeding. This way, we can replace large and expensive planes with a more accessible and efficient system,” González stated.
The project also considers the possibility of operating drones at a distance of up to 20 kilometers, depending on the radio signal and available fuel.
This technological advancement will not only impact the fight against hail. González highlighted that the same design could be adapted for other critical tasks, such as police surveillance or assistance in forest fires.
“The platform’s flexibility allows for integrating different powertrains and commands, opening up possibilities for multiple applications,” he affirmed.
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