On March 3, 2025, the Department of Agricultural Engineering organized an alumni guest lecture on “Drone Technology in Agricultural Engineering.” The resource person for the session was Ms. Sathya Santharam (B.E. Agricultural Engineering, 2016–2020), an alumna of the department and a DGCA-certified Drone Pilot Instructor at Flytutor Technologies Private Limited, Erode.
The event was coordinated by Mrs. M. Bhuvaneswari and Mrs. A. Subashini, Assistant Professors in the Department of Agricultural Engineering. The session was held at Kalam’s Chamber, Paavai Engineering College, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. It commenced with a prayer song, followed by a welcome address and a presidential speech delivered by Dr. B. Kailashkumar, Head of the Department. Dr. P. Tamilchelvan, Professor in the Department of Agricultural Engineering, felicitated the resource person with a memento.
Ms. Sathya Santharam began her presentation with an introduction to drone technology and its importance in modern agricultural practices. She highlighted how drones are revolutionizing farming by enabling efficient monitoring of crop health, irrigation management, and soil condition assessments. She emphasized the role of drones in precision agriculture, particularly in crop spraying and data collection, which enhance productivity, sustainability, and overall farming efficiency.
Additionally, she discussed the expanding job opportunities in the drone industry, both in the private and government sectors, with a growing demand for skilled drone pilots, data analysts, and other professionals. She explained how these opportunities are increasing as drones become more integrated into agriculture and various other industries.
The session provided valuable insights for students into the intersection of drone technology and agricultural engineering, highlighting the crucial role of drone pilots in the future of agriculture. A total of 160 students and 8 faculty members attended the lecture, gaining a deeper understanding of the significance of drones in enhancing agricultural practices. The interactive nature of the session made it a resounding success, sparking interest in potential careers in this field.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Student Secretary, expressing gratitude to the resource person, faculty members, and participants for making the session insightful and engaging.
