Pretty soon, Wild Florida airboat tours may not need captains! Recently, researchers have developed airboats that can be controlled by smartphones. Researchers have found it to be difficult to explore distant, hard-to-reach locations, so a company called Platypus LLC has developed autonomous robotic airboats. These airboats are able to gather data from these remote locations using detailed spatiotemporal maps that map the location after arrival.
The airboats are a cost-effective way to gather environmental data and accurate water information for scientific and educational purposes. There are solar-powered recharge stations located strategic to the remote locations that are explored by the airboats. This allows the autonomous airboats to remain in the body of water for months collecting data that is sent directly for the website for analysis.
Platypus LLC is a company based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that develops environmental monitoring solutions such as autonomous robotic airboats. The company was a product of the Carniege Mellon University’s Robotics Institute in 2012. According to their website, “Platypus is working with several public agencies and private companies to determine the boat’s full range of use, as well as identifying the extremity of environment in which it may be deployed.”
Wild Florida fully supports all research and conservation efforts that can be made to tell us more about environments that we know little about. If you’re interested in experiencing natural, undeveloped Florida in an airboat tour. Also, learn more about Florida wildlife by going through our newly developed Wildlife Park. Book your tickets online today!
