An agricultural drone flies in a grid pattern over a 640-acre rectangular field, where each row is 80 acres wide. If the drone covers 40 acres per pass, how many passes are needed to survey the entire field, and what is the minimum number of passes if it alternates direction on alternate lanes?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:25:49 +0000

Title: How Many Passes Does an Agricultural Drone Need to Survey a 640-Acre Field? Grid vs. Alternating Direction Efficiency Agricultural drones are revolutionizing field monitoring, offering precise data collection for irrigation, crop health, and yield prediction—especially over vast areas like 640-acre farms. But how efficiently can a drone survey such a large rectangular field? This article explores the math behind grid-based and alternating-pass drone flyovers, and how direction changes impact total coverage. ### Field Dimensions and Drone Coverage
The field is rectangular, 640 acres total, with rows spaced to cover the entire area. Each row spans 80 acres—meaning there are 640 ÷ 80 = 8 rows along the length. Assuming the field’s design allows uniform lane spacing, the drone flies in systematic patterns to maximize efficiency. Drone coverage capability: 40 acres per pass.
So, to survey the entire field: