The SeaBee: a drone-based system for biopsy sampling marine mammals [poster]

Abstract

Tissue samples from stranded, injured and free-swimming marine mammals can provide rich information on individual genetics, population dynamics, foraging ecology, physiology, and health. Collecting tissue samples using conventional methods is often logistically challenging, can pose risks to researchers, and can introduce stress to both injured and healthy marine mammals during close vessel approaches. To address these challenges, we have developed the SeaBee, a lightweight pneumatic system that can be integrated into small consumer drones and used to remotely deliver tethered PAXARMS darts to collect skin and blubber samples from a wide range of marine mammal species. The SeaBee is comprised of an air bottle, electric solenoid valve, and barrel fixed in a downward-facing orientation. A small electronics package houses a receiver, relay, power board and battery. The entire system, including the dart, weighs about 250g depending on dart, barrel, and air tank selection and mount configuration. It has been successfully integrated into several small multi-rotor drones, including the DJI Inspire 2 and Mavic 3. Initial bench and flight testing has shown that it is capable of reliably and accurately delivering darts with small and large cutting heads commonly used for pinnipeds or delphinids and large whale sampling, respectively. More comprehensive testing, as well as opportunistic carcass sampling, will occur in March – August 2026. This project lays the groundwork for future applications for this system, such as using it to conduct biopsy sampling of free-swimming large whales, deliver medications with a remote syringe, or deploy line-cutting devices in disentanglement operations.

Date
Event
Society of Marine Mammalogy Biennial Conference
Location
San Juan, Puerto Rico
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