Evaluation of Affordable Agricultural Drones for Small and Medium Farms

Abstract

Smart technologies are increasingly used in agriculture, with drones becoming one of the key tools in agricultural production. This study aims to evaluate affordable drones for agricultural use in the Posavina region, located in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina. To determine which drones deliver the best results for small and medium-sized farms, ten criteria were used to evaluate eight drones. Through expert evaluation, relevant criteria were first established and then used to assess the drones. The selected drones are designed for crop monitoring and are priced under EUR 2000. Using the fuzzy A-SWARA (Adapted Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) method, it was determined that the most important criteria for drone selection are control precision, flight autonomy, and ease of use, all of which are technical attributes. The fuzzy MARCOS method revealed that the best-performing drones are also the most affordable. The drones D5, D4, and D8 demonstrated the best results. These findings were confirmed through comparative analysis and sensitivity analysis. Their features are not significantly different from those of more expensive models and can, therefore, be effectively used for smart agriculture. This study demonstrates that drones can be a valuable tool for small farms, helping to enhance agricultural practices and productivity.