THE USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES IN AGRICULTURE AND THE PROSPECTS FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION

The article is devoted to the study of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in agriculture and the assessment of the prospects for their implementation in the context of the digital transformation of the agricultural sector. The purpose of the work is to analyze the areas of use of UAVs, as well as to formulate recommendations for improving the effectiveness of their use, taking into account technological, organizational and weather factors. The research uses methods of analyzing scientific publications, empirical data, regulatory programs, and pilot implementations. Attention is paid to the analysis of the economic, production and management effects of drone integration: cost reduction, yield growth, minimization of agricultural risks, improvement of the accuracy of agricultural monitoring and digitalization of processes. The focus is on promising technologies, including the simulation of a swarm of UAVs, the use of IR diagnostics and interaction with GIS and IoT platforms. The work is of practical importance because it reveals the potential of UAVs as a tool to increase the sustainability and competitiveness of Russian agriculture in the context of modern challenges and the rapid introduction of digital technologies into the industry.