Field Mapping and Route Planning with the Agras T40

Drone spraying quality depends on the accuracy of the map prepared before the flight. An accurate field map used to mean walking the boundary or using a separate mapping drone and desktop software. The Agras T40 brought these steps into one machine: it maps the field with its own camera, the controller processes the map on site and the spraying route is built directly from it.

Note: The Agras T40 is a previous-generation DJI spraying drone. The current line-up includes the Agras T50, Agras T55 and Agras T70P. The information here remains relevant for operators still flying the T40.

This article focuses on mapping and route planning. We cover obstacle sensing in our radar article and the spraying system in our spraying article.

High-Resolution FPV Gimbal Camera

The T40 has a tiltable 12 MP gimbal camera used for both flight monitoring and mapping. From about 30 m, ditches, tree lines, poles and plot boundaries are clearly visible. The camera is IPX6K rated, and an oil seal on the motor shaft keeps the gimbal moving smoothly in dusty, wet conditions.

Offline Local Mapping

One of the T40's most useful features is creating the map on the controller with no internet connection. In mountain villages, valleys and remote fields with weak coverage this is a big advantage. Images are processed on the controller within minutes into a map ready for spraying.

DJI RC Plus Controller

Mapping runs on the DJI RC Plus with an 8-core processor and a bright 7-inch screen readable in sunlight. The operator edits boundaries, marks obstacles and no-spray zones, then enters height, speed, swath and rate to build the route.

From Map to Route

1. Mapping flight: the drone flies an automatic survey over the field.
2. Processing: images are stitched on the controller.
3. Editing: trees, poles, buildings and buffer zones are marked.
4. Route generation: the software lays out passes in the most efficient direction.
5. Application: the drone flies with RTK accuracy and records its position when returning to refill.

Practical Mapping Tips

• Map when shadows are short; long shadows can mislead obstacle positions.
• Always mark power lines separately; thin wires may not show in images.
• Reuse saved maps each season and update only when something changes.

Mapping and route planning are even more advanced on current models. Explore the Agras T50 and others on our spraying drones page.