As Florida grapples with the devastation wrought by Hurricane Milton, a Bay Area tech company has been at the forefront of tracking the storm's every move. Alameda-based Saildrone Inc. has provided the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with critical data to aid in hurricane forecasting, deploying its autonomous sailing vessels into the tempest to gather real-time information on ocean and weather conditions, per ABC7 News.
Witnessing the powerful forces of nature at work, Saildrone's drones withstood the harsh elements and captured remarkable visuals of Hurricane Milton's fury. "Saildrones are designed to be very robust and are able to withstand storms like this," Saildrone's Vice President of Program Delivery Robbie Dean told CBS News San Francisco. The drones are equipped with a keel and wing structure which allows them to remain upright even when bombarded by brutal wind gusts.
These drones are a testament to the innovation originating from the Bay Area, possessing the capability to feed NOAA with ocean surface weather data in what NOAA Oceanographer Greg Foltz describes as "the most extreme environment on earth, the middle of a major hurricane." As reported by CBS News, the data collected by Saildrone, specifically through Saildrone 1083, included 85 mph sustained winds and wave heights exceeding 35 feet during Hurricane Milton.
Furthermore, the technology enables remote pilots to steer the drones from safe distances, as noted by Dean via ABC7 News, "The uncrewed nature keeps personnel safe and enables our customers to get the data that they need in these very remote and tough locations." Operating autonomously, the drones navigate using waypoints and can remain at sea for extended periods thanks to solar energy and battery packs that power the sensors. Despite their robust design, the data recalled by the mission control team helps understand hurricanes' rapid intensification and hopefully aids in reducing future damage and loss of life.
For four years, NOAA and Saildrone have collaborated to understand Atlantic hurricanes better. This partnership underlines the rising role of Bay Area technology in advancing environmental and disaster preparedness initiatives. Dean expressed a sense of pride and community connection in Saildrone's efforts, stating to CBS News San Francisco, "At Saildrone, we are happy to know that we're helping to protect these communities."
