Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in agricultural technology has been strengthened with the launch of the MIST Tec 50, the country’s first fully engineered heavy-duty agricultural drone designed and built entirely by local talent. Unveiled by homegrown drone and automation solutions company Aonic (formerly Poladrone), the MIST Tec 50 is a significant “Made in Malaysia” milestone that showcases the nation’s ability to deliver world-class AgriTech solutions for large-scale operations.
The MIST Tec 50 is a precision machine engineered for robust, efficient spraying and spreading over wide-area farms, estates, and plantations. Its purpose is to automate dangerous and demanding tasks, delivering premium crop protection at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional methods.
Heavy-Duty Payload and Precision
The technical specifications of the MIST Tec 50 reflect its focus on heavy-duty, consistent performance:
The drone is built on a foldable quadcopter frame and features a massive 50-litre tank capacity for liquid spraying. This payload enables extended spraying missions, reducing the downtime required for refills. For solid applications, the system features a 70-litre swappable spreader system with a quick-release mechanism, enabling operators to rapidly switch between spraying and spreading granular products, such as seeds and fertilisers.
The spraying system is powered by a brushless pump and a centrifugal nozzle system that delivers a high flow rate of 16L per minute, ensuring high atomization quality and wide, uniform coverage.
For autonomous flight control, the MIST Tec 50 incorporates critical features:
- RTK Module: The modular RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) Module achieves centimeter-level precision spraying.
- Terrain Following: Built-in sensors automatically adjust the flight altitude to maintain a consistent height over varied terrain, preventing over- or under-spraying.
- Obstacle Avoidance: Advanced sensors provide flying visibility and smart avoidance of objects, enhancing safety during autonomous operations.
The drone is powered by an 18S 30,000mAh battery (ACES Connector), which allows for an endurance of 7 minutes when fully loaded and 20 minutes when empty. The robust frame and propeller system (Hobbywing 5620, 56 Inch) allow a maximum flying weight of 95 kg.
AI-Driven Insights
The MIST Tec 50 is not simply a piece of hardware; it is part of Aonic’s proprietary software ecosystem designed to empower farmers with data.
The ecosystem relies on two primary tools:
- Airamap Desktop: This is a comprehensive fleet management and advanced analytics system. It is equipped with an AI-powered data engine for tasks such as tree counting, crop monitoring, and yield estimation. Airamap allows users to import mission files and automate waypoint generation, significantly reducing planning time.
- MIST Flight App: This companion app provides the pilot with live location tracking, telemetry data, and real-time video streaming to the remote controller.
This hardware-software integration is essential for large-scale plantation operations, enabling data-driven decision-making that leads to better resource management and increased productivity.
Accessibility and Support for Malaysian Farmers
Aonic’s commitment to the local market extends beyond the product itself. The company operates a network of more than 40 service centers across Southeast Asia, providing end-to-end support from deployment to maintenance.
To tackle the cost barrier of technology adoption, Aonic offers Aonic Flex, Malaysia’s first flexible financing program for agri-drones and inputs. This program makes ownership easier with options like monthly payments starting from RM700+ and credit available for fertilisers and pesticides with seasonal repayment options. Furthermore, Aonic supports the local talent pipeline through Drone Academy Asia, a CAAM-approved training organization that has trained over 3,500 licensed operators.
Pricing and Availability
The MIST Tec 50 is available in several bundles designed for different operational needs. The base Ready-to-Fly Package (which includes the drone, remote controller, one battery, and charger) is priced at RM37,999.
A more comprehensive Durian Package (which includes two batteries, a smart charger, an RTK System, and an extra centrifugal system) is priced at RM56,999.
The MIST Tec 50 is proudly Made in Malaysia and is available for purchase now.
