Aerial Drones
The expedition will also use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as aerial drones. UAVs are manufactured to provide an eye in the sky without a human pilot onboard. The University of Canterbury in New Zealand are providing our scientists with two octocopters, four multirotor drones and one fixed wing drone.
The HD video and digital cameras will be used in the expedition to capture footage of the Weddell Sea from above for aerial surveillance and for archaeological and conservational surveying. These autonomous flying machines also carry a range of scientific instruments that will aid sea ice research. Additionally, the aerial drones and satellite remote sensing will aid the experienced ice captains in navigating the safest and easiest channel through the sea ice.
-
AUV
View MoreThe expedition will use Hugin 6000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), which operate at speeds of up to six knots and in water depths of up to 6,000 metres.
-
ROV
View MoreThe deployment of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) by the expedition enables researchers to collect samples of flora and fauna from the seabed for further study in the laboratory.
-
Aerial Drones
View MoreThe expedition will also use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as aerial drones. UAVs are manufactured to provide an eye in the sky without a human pilot onboard.
-
Sediment Corers
View MoreSediment cores are used to sample the organisms that live on or just below the surface of the ocean floor (the benthos), while also displaying the structure of the sediment by boring a large tube into the benthos and then raising the column.
-
Oceanography (CTD)
View MoreA CTD (also known as Sonde) is a multi-parameter water monitoring system that is designed to simultaneously measure a range of biological and physical properties in both salt and fresh water.