Drones are not just for hobbyists, they have a new scientific application—indicating changes beneath the sea surface. MBARI researchers are exploring the possibilities of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to accompany and enhance ocean science and engineering. Aerial platforms such as UAVs, or drones, as they are more commonly known, are making headway into scientific applications due to the variety of remote sensing capabilities they offer. However, due to difficult environmental conditions—water, wind, and waves—the marine sciences have been slower to adopt this technology. Fortunately, this is changing, as there are now at least two UAV developers who have decided to meet this challenge and design aerial vehicles for marine applications. Read More.
