A photo provided by Project CETI shows a tap-and-go drone hovering over a whale. The drones apply sensors equipped with suction cups to the backs of whales, allowing researchers to gather vital scientific data while minimising the disturbance to the mammals. — Jaime Rojo/Project CETI via The New York Times
In the waters off Dominica in the Caribbean, a drone descends from the sky toward a sperm whale. Instead of dropping a tag from above, this drone will press against the whale’s back to attach a specialised sensor. The tag’s suction cups will stick to the whale’s skin, allowing the device to record audio of these marine mammals communicating.
The technique, which researchers call tap-and-go, is described in a new study published in the journal PLOS One on Aug 13. The findings demonstrate that the approach is a possible way to gather vital scientific data while minimising the disturbance to whales.
