Aeronaves remotamente pilotadas e suas aplicações no manejo agrícola e ambiental

The objective of this study was to perform a bibliographic research of the scientific production about the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), popularly known as drones, reporting historical aspects, technological advances and the different applications in the agricultural and environmental management. Initially, RPAs technology was used in military applications, particularly in the Gulf War, but its first military applications date back to the 1950s, and by the 1920s the first RPAs were designed for war purposes. Recently there has been technological advancement in systems based on RPAs, and from the late 1990s their applications were no longer be restricted to military use, and they started being used by civilians in various market segments. The main examples occurred in construction, agriculture and environmental management. This is due to the fact that RPAs deliver aerial images with high spatial and temporal resolution, thus complementing the data provided by satellite and terrestrial platforms. There are several very high-quality sensors being designed and used in RPAs. Those sensors are capable of measuring the land surface temperature; capture infrared light radiated by the vegetation; and measure the height of land surface elements. The use of RPA opens a new path for environmental and agricultural scenarios, especially as it is a tool that enables immediate response in time for rapid interventions in agricultural areas, as well as degraded legal reserve and permanent preservation areas.