From Sky to Field: MSU Pioneers Next-Gen Agricultural Drones

Mississippi State University is pioneering a partnership with a leading U.S.-based drone manufacturer to innovate groundbreaking UAS technology.

MSU’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute, or AAI, and Hylio, a Texas-based drone manufacturer, are leading the way in researching the emerging technology of agricultural spray drones. These advanced systems are poised to revolutionize how farmers manage agricultural product applications, providing a new autonomous tool to complement traditional application methods by tractors and crop-dusting planes.

“In June of 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration streamlined regulations for agricultural product applications by drone,” said Madison Dixon, AAI’s associate director. “MSU is a longstanding leader in both agriculture and aerospace research, but strict regulations made agricultural product applications by drone very challenging for both research and commercial operations alike. The new regulations have completely changed that.”

Following these regulatory advancements, the state of Mississippi adapted its own regulations in December 2023. By February of this year, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station had secured a special permit, allowing MSU—the FAA’s UAS Center of Excellence and UAS Safety Research Facility—to commence spray drone research. As interest grew, AAI seized the opportunity to form research partnerships with U.S.-based drone manufacturers.

“We first contacted Hylio and discussed MSU’s broad drone research portfolio and our new focus on spray drones at AAI, and they were excited to collaborate,” Dixon said.

Founded in 2015 by Arthur Erickson and fellow University of Texas classmates, Hylio initially focused on providing service-based drone solutions before pivoting to agricultural applications in 2017.  The company has since developed numerous product offerings including the AG-272, a high-capacity drone capable of carrying 18 gallons and lifting off at 450 pounds, including payload. This “Texas-sized” drone can operate in swarms, offering a scalable solution that rivals traditional agricultural machinery in terms of area coverage and efficiency. Hylio’s proprietary swarm technology also provides real-time data from all drones simultaneously, operating from a single user-friendly interface.

“This technology, which the FAA approved in February, allows our drones to operate on an industrial scale,” Erickson said. “We can cover up to 150 acres per hour, similar to a tractor.”

AAI, in collaboration with MAFES and the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, purchased an AG-230 spray drone platform and signed a cooperative research agreement with Hylio over the summer. This month, an MSU team traveled to the company’s headquarters in Houston for flight training.

“Hylio and MSU share common goals in advancing drone technology for agricultural applications,” Erickson said. “With our products and MSU’s programs, we can work together to pioneer best practices and teaching methods that will one day hopefully put this technology in the hands of a lot of American farmers.”

Dixon added, “In the last decade, MSU has become known as a leader in autonomous systems and drone research and is the only university designated as the FAA’s UAS Center of Excellence and UAS Safety Research Facility. Hylio, meanwhile, has launched novel technologies and received advanced operations approvals from the FAA. Our combined knowledge of aviation, agricultural applications and FAA regulatory requirements make for a mutually beneficial partnership.”