Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
BC Cook
“NOW anyone can be a Jacques-Cousteau, exploring the world’s oceans. Only now they can do it from the deck of a ship of even the couch in their living room.”
A revolution is brewing that may mark a new era in our understanding of the sea. For centuries exploration was done by a few people who had the courage and the resources to accomplish great, and expensive, tasks. Explorers took the risks and all humanity benefited by learning more about our planet and gaining new opportunities.
But now the technology is available to put undersea exploration at everyone’s fingertips and do it at a low cost. You are aware of flying drones that can be rigged with cameras that enable people to get a bird’s eye view. Photographers use them to create unique wedding pictures, police use them to survey high-risk neighborhoods, and yes, they are used to spy on the girl next door.
That same idea has now been applied to the sea. It is called Trident, a small remote-controlled submarine with a camera on it. This small underwater drone, about the size of a briefcase, can dive several hundred feet down, is very maneuverable, and can send back video of whatever it sees. Several hundred feet may not sound very deep and in a way it is not. Do not get any ideas of sending one to the bottom of Marianas Trench or checking out the Titanic wreck. But there is more to explore in the top three hundred feet than you may think.
Most shipwrecks are located within that zone, as are the great coral reefs of the world. Nearly everything man-made is also found in within that depth. So, there is a lot to see down there.
There is no doubt that the Trident underwater drone has the potential to revolutionize undersea exploration. Just think of what it means for scuba diving or search and rescue operations. My thoughts turned to weighing the pros and cons.
Pros. There are almost too many to list. We can now safely penetrate shipwrecks without risk of personal injury or death. People who cannot scuba dive for physical reasons, such as those with paralysis or muscle diseases, can now enjoy the underwater world. Inspectors can determine the structural integrity of an offshore oil rig without getting wet.
We should finally be able to find Amelia Earhart’s plane. Millions of children can tune in from the classroom as Trident’s rove around coral reefs in real time. We can monitor the health of reef systems and fish populations from anywhere and be alerted to problems as they occur, rather than finding out after it is too late to prevent it.
Cons. Like so many technologies, what happens if it falls into the wrong hands? The news is full if Peeping Toms using go-pros to look in their neighbors’ windows. Drones are crashing into each other as the paparazzi fight for celebrity beach pics.
Is the ocean a better place when it has thousands of drones zipping around looking for something cool for children back home? There is something to be said for earning the right to look at the underwater world and learning enough respect to keep it intact. Will Trident users respect shipwrecks or sharks enough not to harass or harm them?
The explorer in me says bring on the Tridents. But I have seen too much misuse and abuse in other similar technologies, so I am cautious. What will we be saying about underwater drones ten years from now? Are they a blessing or a curse?
BC Cook, PhD lived on Saipan and has taught history for over 30 years. He is a director and historian at Sealark Exploration (sealarkexploration.org).
