Robotic Plane Enlisted for Whale Patrol

January 28, 2008

Did you know that the Japanese government authorizes 1,000 whale kills per year in the name of science?

Now scientists are testing whether a remote-controlled drone could conduct some of the research and  convince Japan that a non-lethal approach could work.

The project, led by Michael Noad of the University of Queensland, will enlist the unmanned Aerocam "Shadow" drone to capture images of migrating whales off Australia's North Stradbroke Island. Researchers will be testing, among other things, if the images can be viewed in real time, and which camera heights and setups work best for different species.

Aerial surveys are not new, but employing a drone could save time, money, and even lives. In the last 20 years, eight people have died while performing aircraft surveys.

For more, read the Syndey Morning Herald piece here.

Comments

[jose]

In the abyss of time where others swam fruitfully, I foundered. Lacking the cult-leader ego to draw the web those desperately needing passion or direction would tangled their talents into, aka self-absorption’s trap, I attempted to pit my/self in naive exhibit self against socially-inflicted failures and dead ends. My wiser brethren who enlisted the labor of desperate actors and movie technicians, who visited film schools, to speak their hyperbola of status quo, using others to forward him/herself/ditto the schools, ‘accredited universities, etc. into heady grandeur, attracting more flies, etc… they are smug in it.

I asked an author, and film maker I knew well enough to assume they’d not lie or exaggerate excessively, how many people directly assisted them in their new notoriety. One said eleven. The other took a minute or two, and said

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JOSE

Sydney Dating

[cf]

I'm afraid that I don't believe that this will do any good in this context, as much as I would like it to. Does anyone really believe that they are actually performing research? Whaling used to be a huge part of the Japanese national commerce, and all of a sudden it does an about turn and is labelled research??? Call me cynical but....

[annea]

Anyone know what the Japanese government is studying that they need to kill the whales? I read the Herald piece and not sure why counting and taking digital photos of migrating whales will aid the cause and cease the killing. Anything to save these creatures is welcomed, I just don't understand what the crux of the issue is.