Kickstarter to fund drones in whale research (featuring Patrick Stewart!)

InterMurph · Jul 16, 2015

My friend Iain Kerr, CEO of the Ocean Alliance, is raising money to use drones for whale research. The Kickstarter begin today, and I am proud to be the first funder:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/snotbot/snotbot-pushing-the-frontiers-of-whale-research-wi

It turns out that Iain is also friends with Patrick Stewart, who appears in the cute video they made.

Iain says that DJI has promised him an Inspire 1, but he hasn't received it yet.

ajohnsonlaird · Jul 16, 2015

Great idea.
But "Snotbot?" Needs work....if the government were to do this it might be called Cetaceous Exhalation Capture System. CECS. Or something like that. Bonus points for the most contrived acronym.

AndyH · Jul 17, 2015

ajohnsonlaird said:
Great idea.
But "Snotbot?" Needs work....if the government were to do this it might be called Cetaceous Exhalation Capture System. CECS. Or something like that. Bonus points for the most contrived acronym.

Excellent concept and a very good cause. Though, I must admit, that though I have an extremely wild imagination, I would have never, ever imagined a drone to collect whale snot.

InterMurph · Jul 17, 2015

That's funny; I think of my drone as a hammer, and I spend all day looking for nails. If someone had told you, "we need a way to collect whale snot that doesn't stress the animals," wouldn't your first thought have been, "My drone could do it!"?

AndyH · Jul 17, 2015

Actually. ...I never new that the whale blow hole expulsions was mucus. The things you learn.....

Lucas · Jul 18, 2015

Excellent project, however over open sea I would use drone with more rotors. Here in East Africa simple drones used for research on crane birds (Rwanda) and as possible tool to keep elephants/buffalos out of fields and villages (Kenya). Kenya drones also able to drop chili powder

InterMurph · Jul 18, 2015

At the kick-off party, they showed off the drone they had chosen. It's a hex-rotor with waterproofing, and the camera inside a bubble. When it lands on the surface, the camera is below the water line, so it can see into the water as well. I will ask Iain what the model is.

It cannot, unfortunately, drop chili powder.

AndyH · Aug 27, 2015

I have shared this with many friends on Social Media a few weeks ago and quite frankly was amazed at the response I received. Over 60% of my friends, supported it at some level. Great cause.