The world’s largest agriculture drone can now hit U.S. fields

Agriculture drones are commonplace on a lot of U.S. farms today, but now, the world’s largest has been approved for use over U.S. fields.

The Pelican-2 aircraft was designed and built by Pyka, a robotics company.

It is the largest autonomous aircraft approved by the FAA for commercial use, and it has an 80-gallon payload, covering 222 acres per hour.

Pyka teamed up with several other ag companies to distribute the drone. Company leaders say deliveries are set to go out over the coming months.

Related Stories
A new proposal from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could transform how farmers use drones, allowing commercial operators to fly beyond their visual line of sight.
The FAA’s proposed rule to allow drones to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) could soon revolutionize how farmers and ranchers manage their land.
Farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen discusses the rise of drone technology in agriculture and how the ”plain view” doctrine could inform future regulatory law and insurance inspections of farmland.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Jenna Paulette grew up working on her family’s ranch on the Oklahoma-Texas border. Her passion for agriculture can be heard in her debut album, released earlier this year.
CLAAS is pleased to announce its title sponsorship of the RFD-TV broadcast studios in Nashville, TN. The RFD-TV studios were officially recognized as the “CLAAS Studios” on July 3, 2023 further advancing the recognition of CLAAS as a leading large equipment manufacturer in North America.
Thursday, 8/17/23 – 10 PM ET | 9 PM CT | 8 PM MT | 7 PM PT
Legendary singer/songwriters Wynn Varble and Rory Feek bring together some of their favorite songs, stories, and songwriters each week for the second season of Muletown in the Round, an exciting music & entertainment program returning to RFD-TV!
Monday, 8/28/23 – 10 PM ET | 9 PM CT | 8 PM MT | 7 PM PT
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.