Safer, faster sampling in remote environments

How It Works

Once the drone has landed at the sampling site, the operator controls the robotic arm using a camera and remote control. A tube is lowered into the snow, and material is suctioned into a sample container, following the same basic principle as a household vacuum cleaner.

The system was originally developed for collecting snow algae as part of the EU-funded XTREAM project. Snow algae are microscopic organisms that grow in small patches, sometimes only a few centimeters across, and can give snow a faint pink tint. These algae can be difficult to detect and challenging to access on foot.

The researchers see potential applications far beyond snow algae. The technology could be used for environmental monitoring and biological sampling in a wide range of hard-to-reach locations. The next step is to make the system more robust, user-friendly, and capable of collecting multiple samples during a single mission.

From Laboratory to Mountainside

The technology was first tested in NORCE’s laboratory in Tromsø, where the drone successfully collected a snow sample. Laboratory analysis and microscopy confirmed the presence of living algae in the sample.

Field trials were later conducted by NORCE in Finnvikdalen on Kvaløya. The drone collected material from several sampling sites, and subsequent laboratory analyses again confirmed that the samples contained living algae.

– This demonstrates that the entire process works in practice, from identifying suitable sampling locations to collecting biological material, says Stian Solbø, Research Director for Drones and Autonomous Systems at NORCE.

The technology offers several additional benefits. Researchers no longer need to work on steep mountain slopes or traverse unstable snow conditions. Tasks that previously required hours of fieldwork can now be completed in minutes. Reduced transportation needs and less traffic in sensitive environments also help minimize environmental impact.

Challenges Remain

At present, the drone can collect only one sample per flight, limiting efficiency when multiple sites need to be surveyed. There is also scope for further development of the suction system so that several samples can be collected during a single mission. Researchers are continuing to work on these improvements.

– This is a good example of how new technology can make fieldwork both safer and more efficient, says Project Manager Antonio Garcia-Moyano at NORCE.