Advances in Drift Mitigation and Integrated Precision Spraying Technologies

Agricultural spraying has evolved from conventional passive drift mitigation toward active, intelligent precision management. This review synthesizes advancements in agricultural precision spraying, evaluating both established passive drift-reduction techniques and emerging active application systems. The analysis emphasizes three core technological pillars: multi-sensor target perception, real-time variable-rate decision modeling, and high-frequency actuation mechanisms. The findings indicate that integrating these distinct mechanisms into a unified “perception–decision–execution” architecture offers a means of balancing the trade-off between drift reduction and canopy coverage. By transitioning from broadcast applications to targeted delivery, this synergistic approach may contribute to improving pesticide utilization, minimizing off-target environmental contamination, and enhancing the biological efficacy of crop protection. Overall, this technical progression may facilitate the translation of precision spraying technologies from controlled laboratory validation to broader field implementation.