Advancing Agriculture: A Review of UAV Technologies and Their Impact on Sustainable Farming

Abstract

Agriculture, the backbone of human civilization, faces unprecedented challenges as global food demand is projected to increase by nearly 50% by 2050. The advent of smart agriculture, driven by cutting-edge technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and computing paradigms like Cloud, Fog, and Edge computing, offers transformative solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. These technologies enable precise monitoring, resource optimization, and faster decision-making, addressing critical issues in modern farming. UAVs, in particular, play a pivotal role in applications ranging from precision farming to innovative areas such as space farming. The integration of satellite-based networks and advanced analytics fosters the transition toward Agriculture 4.0, characterized by improved efficiency and automation. However, challenges such as high initial costs, limited technical expertise, lack of offline processing capabilities, and privacy concerns hinder widespread adoption. This paper provides a comprehensive review of UAV applications in agriculture, highlighting their benefits, limitations, and potential future directions, with a focus on fostering sustainable and technologically advanced farming practices.