Drone technology applied to environmental sciences

As the XPrize Rainforest Grand Prize winner, Outreach Robotics has transformed biodiversity monitoring methods by offering unprecedented access to areas previously considered unreachable. With their extended range and ability to navigate challenging environments such as dense forest canopies, steep cliffs, and remote wetlands, conservation drones allow researchers to monitor biodiversity across vast landscapes in a fraction of the time it would take on foot. This efficiency is a game-changer for biodiversity research. Instead of spending days or weeks traversing rugged terrain, drones can rapidly survey ecosystems, covering extensive areas with minimal environmental disturbance.

What’s more, drone technology enables the collection of data that has historically been impossible to gather. From sensor deployment on the tops of the tallest trees to eDNA water sampling in remote areas, drones open the door to insights into ecosystems that were once inaccessible. Researchers can now capture genetic material, environmental data, and habitat metrics that were previously out of reach, revolutionizing how we understand and protect biodiversity.