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Topic: Research drones

This yellow, solar-powered boat-like SeaTrac drone, seen here on launching dock, can stay at sea for months, collecting data with a wide variety of off-the-shelf and NOAA-designed instruments.

Another ocean drone joins NOAA’s growing fleet

April 9, 2026

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research drones

unmanned systems

This yellow, solar-powered boat-like SeaTrac drone, seen here on launching dock, can stay at sea for months, collecting data with a wide variety of off-the-shelf and NOAA-designed instruments.

Two coast guard pilots operate an uncrewed aircraft system from a vessel

Can drones be used to respond to oil spills?

December 18, 2025

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Climate-Ready Coasts

research drones

Two coast guard pilots operate an uncrewed aircraft system from a vessel

wide angle shot of a drone holding an orange tag with suction cups hovering above a humpback whale

Research teams use drones to tag humpback whales in Hawaii

December 16, 2025

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research drones

wide angle shot of a drone holding an orange tag with suction cups hovering above a humpback whale

Satellite image of Hurricane Helene as it formed in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in the Florida Big Bend region.

Helene drone flight breaks records for data collection and flying time

October 2, 2024

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research drones

Satellite image of Hurricane Helene as it formed in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in the Florida Big Bend region.

The Altius-600 uncrewed aircraft system demonstration model appears with Hurricane Hunter NOAA WP-3D Orion, known as “Miss Piggy,” at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, during an uncrewed aircraft system flight test on May 25, 2022.

NOAA flies straight into the Guinness World Records book

September 12, 2023

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research drones

uncrewed systems

The Altius-600 uncrewed aircraft system demonstration model appears with Hurricane Hunter NOAA WP-3D Orion, known as “Miss Piggy,” at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, during an uncrewed aircraft system flight test on May 25, 2022.

A suction cup tag drops onto the back of a North Atlantic right whale. The photo was taken by the drone that deployed the tag (Permit #24359).

'Game changer': Drones help researchers safely tag, study endangered whales

August 7, 2023

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endangered species

research drones

A suction cup tag drops onto the back of a North Atlantic right whale. The photo was taken by the drone that deployed the tag (Permit #24359).

An uncrewed aerial system sails in towards a sei whale to attach an acoustic recording tag that will help monitor impacts of human-caused noise on whale behavior.

NOAA Science Report features new data-gathering drones, advances in wind, water forecasts

March 29, 2023

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research drones

An uncrewed aerial system sails in towards a sei whale to attach an acoustic recording tag that will help monitor impacts of human-caused noise on whale behavior.

Uncrewed drone.

New research drones launched to improve hurricane forecasts

August 3, 2022

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research drones

Uncrewed drone.

Saildrone out on the ocean that was designed for hurricane data collection.

A world first: Ocean drone captures video from inside a hurricane

September 30, 2021

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research drones

Saildrone out on the ocean that was designed for hurricane data collection.

NOAA researchers used uncrewed aircraft to capture aerial images and video of damage following two tornado outbreaks in Alabama and Mississippi in March 2021. Researchers hope this new approach to damage assessment can improve our understanding of tornadoes and lead to better forecasts.

NOAA scientists use drones to see tornado damage in remote areas

April 20, 2021

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research drones

NOAA researchers used uncrewed aircraft to capture aerial images and video of damage following two tornado outbreaks in Alabama and Mississippi in March 2021. Researchers hope this new approach to damage assessment can improve our understanding of tornadoes and lead to better forecasts.

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