Drones Put To Use In ERAU Marine Mammal Rescue Program | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.21.25

Airborne-Unlimited-07.22.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.23.25

Airborne-Unlimited-07.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.25.25

Tue, Sep 08, 2020

Drones Put To Use In ERAU Marine Mammal Rescue Program

Embry-Riddle, Verizon Partner On Novel Marine Conservation Program 

In an effort to safely and humanely rescue marine mammals, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has partnered with marine biologists and a Verizon drone-management platform to monitor animals in distress using unmanned aircraft systems.

A video produced by Verizon features Gennifer Brookshire, a marine biologist and FAA-certified drone operator, who explains that attempting to reach marine mammals in need can sometimes disturb them, whether rescuers approach from the shore or by boat. Seals in the video are shown entangled in fishing line, while others in need of medical treatment are carried off the beach in stretchers.

Drones, however, can be used to assess similar situations without worsening the animals’ distress. That’s where Embry-Riddle comes in to help, said David Thirtyacre, assistant professor in the College of Aeronautics Worldwide Campus.

Eagle researchers were asked by the  marine biologists to determine what type of unmanned aircraft would be most useful for marine mammal rescues while creating the smallest disturbance to animals being monitored, and to nearby wildlife.

“The biologists came to us and said, ‘What would be the best drones to use? Which drones would allow a close enough approach to study the wildlife without the noise causing stress or anxiety?’” Thirtyacre said, adding that no research had previously been conducted on the acoustic signature of consumer drones amid the ambient noise of the ocean.

Embry-Riddle is also involved in a project to better understand the behavior of multiple sea turtle species along Florida’s Space Coast, teaming up with aviation leader Northrop Grumman and the Brevard Zoo to launch a drone-based surveillance effort.

In the project with Verizon, the research team — which also included Dr. Joe Cerreta, assistant professor of Aeronautical Science, and Patrick Sherman, Worldwide Campus Department of Flight adjunct faculty member — used Skyward, a drone-management system owned by Verizon, to assess the decibel and frequency levels at which drones operate in the marine environment. Thirtyacre said Skyward was utilized from the planning stages, through safety assessments and actual flights. Afterward, all the data from the test flights was downloaded into Skyward and analyzed.

“Now we can supply not only the marine biologists with which drones are the quietest and will have the least impact on the sea animals, but we’re also going to make the data available to the government and agencies that issue permits, so they have a better idea of what aircraft work best in these types of environments,” Thirtyacre said, adding that marine biologists Sarah Callan and Brittany Arivizu also participated in the project.

College of Aeronautics Dean Kenneth Witcher said the partnership between Embry-Riddle and Verizon provides a unique opportunity.

“Through partnerships with companies like Skyward/Verizon, we are able to discover the value of remotely piloted aircraft systems in very innovative ways from a professional aviation perspective, leveraging our experience and safety culture,” Witcher said.

Brookshire said the data will also be shared with other scientists and rescue organizations, so they can incorporate drones into their efforts and get more information on how to help the animals.

“Monitoring seals is just the beginning,” she said.

FMI: https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-verizon-partner-to-use-drones-for-marine-mammal-rescue

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.21.25: Nighthawk!, Hartzell Expands, Deltahawk 350HP!

Also: New Lakeland Fly-in!, Gleim's DPE, MOSAIC! Nearly three-quarters of a century in the making, EAA is excited about the future… especially with the potential of a MOSAIC>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.27.25): Estimated (EST)

Estimated (EST) -When used in NOTAMs “EST” is a contraction that is used by the issuing authority only when the condition is expected to return to service prior to the >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.27.25)

Aero Linx: Regional Airline Association (RAA) Regional airlines provide critical links connecting communities throughout North America to the national and international air transpo>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Luce Buttercup

The Airplane Broke Up In Flight And Descended To The Ground. The Debris Path Extended For About 1,435 Ft. Analysis: The pilot, who was the owner and builder of the experimental, am>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: 'That's All Brother'-Restoring a True Piece of Military History

From 2015 (YouTube version): History Comes Alive Thanks to A Magnificent CAF Effort The story of the Douglas C-47 named, “That’s all Brother,” is fascinating from>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC