Sea Shepherd’s Aerial Drone Revealed

by Michael dEstries December 27, 2011
Categories: Animals, Causes.

Some additional information about the drones used by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has come to light. The sUAS (Small Unmanned Aviation Systems) were deployed last week and successfully discovered the Japanese whaling fleet more than 1,000 miles north of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The technology, not unlike the larger military drones used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, is considered a major advantage for the conservation org; which in the past has relied upon a mix of guesswork, experience, and outside assistance to locate the whalers.

According to sources (h/t Planet Ocean Alliance), at least one Sea Shepherd drone (commercially called “The Osprey”) was created by the Wichita, Kansas-based UAV company “Hangar 18“.

“The Osprey was designed as an endurance UAS that’s capable flying for over an hour carrying custom payloads,” reports the site SUASNews. “It’s stable design makes it easy to fly and is actually capable of climbing in thermal lift with the motor turned off. The Osprey also flies well in higher wind conditions and has a very wide speed range.”

While the website lists the Osprey as having a flight time just over one hour, the Sea Shepherd press release says they acquired a “long-range drone” from Moran Shipping Agencies that likely is customized to go even further.

Either way, this “eye-in-the-sky” offers a new, high-tech advantage for an anti-whaling campaign that relies heavily on tracking and impediment. Japan may be insistent on continuing to waste millions of dollars on bloodying the seas for a dying industry, but time has a way of creating fools of those stuck in the past. 21st century technology is not an ally of the Japanese whaling fleet.

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →

http://www.facebook.com/james.eitzen James Eitzen

Won’t be long till they have a private satellite.
http://www.facebook.com/james.eitzen James Eitzen

Won’t be long till they have a private satellite.
romika3

Folks, it is a radio controlled airplane and nothing else. Available at your local RC shop. All the rubbish about a 1000 mile range is just rubbish….
romika3

Just to post the truth here. Watson has a Jackaroo UAS with a ran of 25 km range in any direction. Basically toy and not a drone. Again as Watson outlines in his book “Earthforce” it is acceptable to lie and distort the truth. This unit is meant to attack more youth to their TV show. A show that runs off the backs of fishermen ….
Jprouty

Stock configuration for the Osprey gives it ~1 hour of flying time but flight times can be significantly lengthened by using different battery packs and motors.
Turnip

“Folks, it is a radio controlled airplane and nothing else. Available at your local RC shop. All the rubbish about a 1000 mile range is just rubbish..”
No one said it had a 1000 mile range, the 1000 mile figure is referring to how far away the Whalers were found from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Read.