6 days Ago By U Tejonmayam
Chennai: Indian researchers have developed a custom-designed dual quadcopter drone (DQC) for collecting seawater data to monitor coastal pollution. Weighing 85kg, the drone can carry a payload of up to 25kg and is equipped with advanced oceanographic sensors. It was built by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in collaboration with an industry partner.
The drone completed ocean sampling at NIOT's seafront facility at Pamanji, Nellore, followed by a field performance test. Soon, similar drones will operate at 20 locations on both the east and west coasts to collect ocean data. "These drones are not off-the-shelf models.
We tailored them to operate in coastal conditions, factoring in wind gusts, stability, endurance, and payload requirements," said R Srinivasan, senior scientist, ocean electronics group, NIOT. The drones will also map the topography along the coast. Half of their weight is the high-capacity battery pack designed to support 30–45 minutes of flight.
They can travel up to two km into the ocean, where they hover and deploy sensors into the water using a winch mechanism. "The winch mechanism ensures the sensor payload remains stable during flight and can be lowered smoothly and immersed into the water, preventing any unwanted pendulum motion," Srinivasan said. The design also incorporates a fail-safe dual-motor system per arm, ensuring continued flight even if one rotor fails.
Unlike previous hexacopter drones, which had a payload capability of 10kg, this version allows simultaneous deployment of multiple instruments. "So we can complete data collection in a single sortie instead of multiple flights," the scientist added. The project, launched in 2024 under Mission Mausam, aims to collect large amounts of in-situ ocean and atmospheric data sets to enhance weather prediction, climate change, and air-sea interaction studies.
The development of the drone was led by NIOT director Dr Balaji Ramakrishnan. "We have been regularly collecting coastal water data in two locations in Chennai — Muttukadu estuary and Pattinampakkam," said Srinivasan. "By leveraging drone technology, we can efficiently monitor topography, seawater mixing zones, and ecological dynamics at critical sea–river coastal junctions.
" At present, researchers either sail in boats to collect water samples or place sensors near the jetties along the shoreline to monitor pollution. Balaji Ramakrishnan said even pristine waters offer clues for weather forecasting, making such data essential for ecosystem and climate insights. "In challenging breaker zones where boats shake, drones offer reliable data.
They may eventually replace humans in coastal pollution monitoring," he said..
