Capstone Project

TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY

Drones

INDUSTRY SPONSOR

NOAA

PROBLEM SPACE

Enviromental Science

DATE COMPLETED

December 03, 2022

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Project Wavedancer

Orcas swimming in the ocean with water mist from a blowhole. Text overlay reads Project Wavedancer in the top left corner. Background shows blurred mountains and a clear sky.

Problem

Researchers at the NOAA have previously been studying the health of Killer whale populations using drones fitted with makeshift petri dishes, allowing them to collect samples from droplets shot out of a whale's blow hole. However, this method isn't consistent enough to help them analyze these samples.

Approach

The team designed a custom wooden artificial blowhole based on their preliminary research and interaction with subject matter experts. Using this device they were able to test their prototypes without involving real whales.

Solution

The team developed a clamshell like device made out of carbon fiber that is actuated using a servo motor and triggered with a LORA radio.

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Project Wavedancer

A person with short, dark hair is smiling and wearing a white T-shirt with the words RACE TEAM printed on it. The background features a perforated metal wall.

Jack Bowen

UW MSTI 2022
A person with short black hair and glasses stands with arms crossed, wearing a dark gray hoodie. The background features a perforated metal wall.

Kaku Guo

UW MSTI 2022
A person wearing a white hijab and a black blouse stands in front of a patterned wall, smiling at the camera.

Sumayyah Balamesh

UW MSTI 2022
A person with short dark hair is smiling and standing against a textured gray wall. They are wearing a short-sleeved, pink button-up shirt with a blue undershirt visible at the sleeves.

Tantai Davis

UW MSTI 2022