Farm spraying drones

1. 5

   Regulator-cleared or mass marketThis robot

   A regulator has cleared it where approval applies: FDA clearance or approval for a medical robot, a permit to run with no one aboard for a self-driving vehicle, or an FAA approval for routine drone flights. Or: Widely sold: sales in the hundreds of thousands, or a product category you can buy in ordinary shops.

   Placed by: The FAA gave Texas company Hylio an exemption to fly up to three heavy spraying drones (over 55 pounds) at once with one pilot and no extra spotter (March 2024).

2. 4

   Paying customers

   Delivered to customers who pay for it, beyond a trial, or a paid service the public can use.

3. 3

   Pilot

   Working with a named customer in a real setting, as a trial.

4. 2

   Pre-orders

   Orders, reservations or deposits taken, with nothing delivered yet.

5. 1

   Demo only

   Shown in videos, staged events or a factory, with no units working for customers.

What we couldn't confirm. Farmers can keep flying drones they already own; the FCC rule blocks approval of new foreign models and may limit parts such as batteries. US spray drone pilots also need FAA Part 137 (farm aircraft) approval; we did not open the FAA's own page.