Pain Points and Transformation in Traditional Agricultural Spraying

In vast agricultural fields, traditional spraying methods have long faced numerous challenges: complex and ever-changing terrain, uneven crop heights, irregular pest distribution, and a one-size-fits-all spraying approach. This often results in significant pesticide waste—estimated at 30% to 50%—as well as environmental pollution, subpar effectiveness, and rising operational costs.

With the rapid rise of the low-altitude economy, agricultural spraying drones are emerging as a key solution to these pain points. However, to truly achieve intelligent and precise spraying, a powerful “brain” at the core of the drone is essential.

Core Requirements for Agricultural Spraying Drone Controllers

Modern agriculture has put forward strict requirements on drone controllers:

⭐Real-time computing power: More than 70TOPS AI computing power is required to process multi-source sensor data;

⭐ High-precision environmental perception: Supports fusion of sensors such as multispectral cameras and LiDAR;

⭐Intelligent spraying control: Supports variable-rate spraying and real-time flow control

⭐Ultra-long endurance: Power consumption <50W, support 9-36V wide voltage input

⭐Industrial-grade reliability: Dustproof and waterproof design, stable operation at -20℃ to 60℃

Core Powerhouse: BRAV-7121 Edge Computing Controller

Built on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX platform, the BRAV-7121 is an industrial-grade controller designed for high-performance edge computing:

♦ Powerful computing power: Equipped with 70–157 TOPS of AI computing power, 6/8-core ARM Cortex-A78AE CPU and Ampere architecture GPU (1024 cores).

♦ Rich I/O interfaces: Supports 4-channel GMSL cameras, 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 2 serial ports, 2 CAN bus interfaces, and 8-channel isolated DIO.

♦ High energy efficiency: Low power consumption of just 15–40W, with wide-range DC input (9–36V), perfectly suited for drone power systems.

♦ Industrial-grade reliability: Operates in -20°C to 60°C, vibration- and shock-resistant, with ultra-high MTBF for long-term stable operation.

01 Real-Time Environmental Perception

The BRAV-7121 enables real-time, comprehensive environmental perception in the field by supporting simultaneous input from multispectral cameras, vision cameras, and LiDAR/millimeter-wave radar through its 4-channel GMSL/MIPI interfaces, 2 Ethernet ports, and 4 USB ports. Powered by a 1024-core NVIDIA Ampere GPU with 70–157 TOPS of AI performance, the system makes complex real-time perception tasks—such as pest and disease identification, crop analysis, 3D mapping, and obstacle detection—possible directly on the drone. This lays the foundation for advanced functions like variable-rate spraying and autonomous obstacle avoidance.

02 Low-Latency Heterogeneous Computing

Featuring an innovative “CPU + GPU + DLA” heterogeneous architecture, BRAV-7121 enables collaborative processing across compute units. It supports parallel processing of multi-sensor data streams—including vision, LiDAR, multispectral imaging, and positioning—to meet the real-time demands of perception, path planning, and control, with millisecond-level response times. This ensures rapid decision-making and responsiveness for drones operating in complex environments.

03 High-Precision Positioning Fusion

Through dual CAN bus interfaces, the BRAV-7121 connects to high-precision GNSS/IMU integrated navigation systems. Combined with onboard RTK positioning algorithms, it provides centimeter-level accuracy in both positioning and attitude—forming the core reference for precise agricultural spraying.

04 Intelligent Variable-Rate Spraying Control

The BRAV-7121 connects to actuators such as motors, variable-rate pumps, and solenoid spray nozzles via 8-channel isolated DIO and dual isolated COM ports. By leveraging AI algorithms to analyze crop growth conditions and pest distribution in real time, it dynamically adjusts spraying flow rates, enabling precise and targeted pesticide application.

05 Optimization for Ultra-long Endurance

Provides 70–157 TOPS of AI computing power with ultra-low power consumption (15–40W), and supports a wide 9–36V DC input. It intelligently balances computing and flight power loads, delivering strong performance even under limited drone battery capacity to extend effective mission time. Meanwhile, redundant computing resources enable advanced multi-sensor fusion and system health monitoring, ensuring safe operation in complex farmland environments.

06 Edge Inference & Decision-Making Support

Autonomously completes the full process from environmental perception to decision-making and execution. By reducing reliance on stable network connections, it enables drones to perform spraying tasks independently, safely, and efficiently even in remote areas with poor signal coverage. An optional 5G module allows for remote monitoring, ensuring reliable operation across a wide range of environments.

In summary, the BRAV-7121 enables centimeter-level precision spraying based on real-time field perception. It allows dynamic adjustment of where to spray, how much to spray, and what to spray—significantly reducing costs and environmental impact while ensuring effective pest and disease control.

The BRAV-7121 controller solution combines powerful edge computing capabilities with a rich set of industrial interfaces, empowering drones with true intelligence for situational awareness and precise decision-making. It drives agricultural production toward greater digitalization, precision, and sustainability.

With the full rollout of China’s low-altitude economy policies in 2025, the agricultural drone market is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan. With its exceptional performance and reliability, the BRAV-7121 stands out as a top choice for driving industry upgrades.