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Ensure Reliability in Modern Agricultural Drones and Mowes

How Power Resistors Work

Powering the Future of Smart Farming: Bourns® PWR-Series High-Power Resistors for Agricultural Drones and Robotic Mowers

Smart farming relies on high-performance drones and robotic mowers to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Brushless DC motors power these machines with the torque and reliability required for heavy-duty agricultural tasks. Supporting these critical motor and power systems, Bourns® PWR-series high-power resistors ensure safe capacitor discharging, suppress voltage spikes in motor drives, and enable accurate current sensing. With robust power handling from 20 to 50 W in compact TO-220 and D2PAK packages, Bourns PWR resistors deliver the reliability needed for next-generation agricultural equipment.

In today’s era of intelligent and automated agriculture, drones and robotic mowers have become essential tools. Aerial drones deliver real-time crop insights and enable precise spraying, while autonomous mowers efficiently maintain orchards, vineyards, and pastures. Together, they transform farm operations—reducing labor costs, maximizing resource efficiency, and advancing sustainable farming from the sky to the soil.

At the heart of these machines, brushless DC (BLDC) motors deliver the high torque, efficiency, and long-duty-cycle reliability needed for heavy spray loads and all-day autonomous mowing. Their precise control and rugged performance directly impact the productivity of modern farming equipment.

Supporting these advanced motor systems, Bourns® PWR-series high-power resistors play a crucial role in ensuring safe, stable, and reliable electrical performance. Offered in compact, thermally efficient packages such as TO-220 and D2PAK, these resistors provide 20 to 50 watts of power dissipation when mounted on a heat sink—ideal for high-energy agricultural applications.

In drones and mowers, Bourns PWR resistors are used to:

Suppress voltage spikes in snubber circuits within motor drives, protecting power devices and extending system life.

Enable precise motor control through current sensing, supporting accurate feedback and smooth operation.

Ensure critical safety by discharging large capacitors after system shutdown. In these high-power platforms, capacitors can store dangerous levels of energy—Bourns resistors handle the required pulse energy to safely drain them, reducing electric shock risk and protecting components during maintenance.

Engineered for demanding environments and mission-critical performance, Bourns® PWR-series power resistors help make smart farming systems safer, more reliable, and more efficient.

Discover how Bourns can power your next generation of agricultural innovations.

Features

High Power Rating: When mounted on a heat sink, these resistors can handle significant power, with ratings from 20 W to 50 W depending on the model .
Multiple Package Options: The series offers both surface-mount (TO-163, TO-263/D2PAK) and through-hole (TO-220, TO-247) packages
Wide Resistance Range: They are available in a broad resistance range from 0.02 Ω to 130 kΩ, .
ow Inductance Design: The resistors feature low inductance, which is crucial for stable performance in high-frequency switching applications and pulse conditions .
Electrically Isolated Package: The resistor is electrically isolated from its mounting backplate.

Application

Motor Drives-provide robust control for the main propulsion and cutting blade motors.
Snubber Circuits-Suppress voltage spikes in motor controllers to protect sensitive electronics.
Capacitor Discharging-Safely drain stored energy from large power capacitors for system safety.
Current Limiting- protect circuits from overcurrent conditions during motor start-up or operation.
Heater Circuits-enable heating elements for functionality in low-temperature environments