Dronedesk case study
agricultural spraying

When Andy Sproson decided to bring heavy lift drones to the agricultural sector, he was treading new ground in the UK. Time-poor farmers wanted to get their drones in the air, but faced months of seeking permissions and learning how to plan flights, log data, and remain compliant.

He had to get them in the air quickly. So he turned to Dronedesk.

What is AutoSpray Systems?

Andy has been involved in the commercial drone industry for almost a decade. His journey started with a chance encounter with a drone operator who was kind enough to talk about what he was doing with his drone and how to get started flying drones.

So Andy started his journey with Scott, a friend and colleague, and began doing a variety of jobs from photography to surveys before settling on training and founding Pigs Can Fly (a cheeky nod to their history as police officers).

But they’d also spotted another opportunity: heavy lift operations in the agricultural sector. They could see that drones offered an opportunity to save huge amounts of time and money, from sowing seeds to spraying chemicals.

The drones on sale in the UK weren’t quite up to the task, so Andy, Scott, and Rob founded AutoSpray Systems and entered into talks with XAG, which makes agricultural drones capable of carrying a 50-litre spray tank or a 80-litre granule hopper; perfect for agricultural use. Andy, Scott, and Rob emerged from talks with an exclusive deal to import and resell XAG drones within the UK.

But there was a problem.

The answer was straightforward.

Dronedesk for agricultural drone operators

Drones represent a huge opportunity for agricultural organisations, making it quicker, easier, and cheaper to scatter seeds and fertilisers and spray chemicals and paints. The difference between traditional methods and using a drone is huge.

But while using drones can save time, that time can be quickly eaten up again by planning flights, managing pilots and drones and batteries and more, not to mention keeping on top of licences, insurance, maintenance, and record keeping for compliance.

Which is why we designed Dronedesk in the first place: it helps drone operators keep the benefits and avoid the downsides.

So the fact that Dronedesk is offered right alongside their drones is a huge boon to AutoSpray customers.

Many of them discover that the benefits extend just beyond saving time. Having all the information about your drone operations in one place doesn’t just provide peace of mind. It means its easy to access, easy to export, and easy to use to show what you have and haven’t done.

Which sometimes makes it easier to get paid.

It also means it’s easier to keep regulatory bodies happy. Andy’s customers rest easy knowing that all of their flight information, all of their pilot licences and insurances, all of their resource management is all in one place. Not only is it easy to access, but the wealth of data within Dronedesk means pilots aren’t relying on unreliable memories.

So the drone operator isn’t spending hours on paperwork and trying to remember what the weather was doing days ago. And bodies like the HSE get more accurate data.

It's a win-win.

The flexibility AutoSpray needed

Andy and Scott had been using Dronedesk since they first started flying drones, so there was no question of using it to underpin what they were trying to do with AutoSpray Systems.

But things are a little different from what they were doing at Pigs Can Fly.

Once the customer has completed the AutoSpray’s CAA-approved training course, the drone operator(s) are listed as pilots in Autodesk, enabling them to benefit from AutoSpray’s CAA permissions.

But, of course, AutoSpray’s customers don’t want their information to be visible to each other. So Andy needed something more than Dronedesk offered.

The result was Autodesk. Each of AutoSpray’s customers exists in its own compartmentalised section, so they can’t see each other’s information, and enjoys all the great features Dronedesk offers. AutoSpray also has the ability to view its customers information too, to ensure they’re following the training AutoSpray has provided, abiding by regulations as well as their contractual obligations.

One of the things our founder, Dorian, is known for is his willingness to listen to customers and make changes. This was exactly what Andy needed.

These changes can be as minor as moving a button or changing terminology to fit a specific industry. They can also be larger, such as the bespoke maintenance notification Andy requested. But they can also be much, much bigger.

From the beginning, Dronedesk has been designed to be what drone operators need. So rather than dictate what operators should do or how they should go about flights, the design philosophy has always been one of listening to customers. So if something isn’t working for you, Dorian is always a phone call or email away.

Supporting the future of agricultural drone use in the UK

AutoSpray Systems is going from strength to strength, but Andy isn’t resting on his laurels. Right now, drones can’t be used to spray pesticides, but he’s working towards securing that authorisation for AutoSpray and its customers. And he’s confident that the wealth of data they have from their operators in Dronedesk can help in that regard.

After all, it’s already helped AutoSpray secure additional authorisations, such as for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

With BVLOS secured, AutoSpray can now reach even more remote and inaccessible areas, meaning it can support more projects such a peatland restoration, reforestation projects, and more.

And with authorisation to spray pesticides, AutoSpray Systems can bring time- and money-saving drone operations to more agricultural clients across the UK.

We’re proud to have helped AutoSpray Systems use their drones, skills, and training to help farmers and agricultural clients across the UK. If you’re thinking of using drones for your agricultural business and need a tool to help plan flights, manage your resources, and demonstrate your compliance, take a free trial of Dronedesk today.

All quotes are from Andrew Sproson - Co-Founder of AutoSpray Systems