We developed a swarm of drones that can communicate with each other and help with data retrieval for environmental monitoring. The drones fly in sync and accurately photograph, sample, and diagnose bodies of water. We use Dronedeploy technology in order to coordinate the actions of all vehicles via the ‘cloud’.

Our team participated as one of the 19 finalists of UAE’s Drones for Good competition, among over 800 entries. We may not have won, but the project still made a splash… at CNN, an article titled “These drones have a higher calling”, tells the story of Waterfly, citing our vision of a future where drones that operate collaboratively are the norm, not the exception. There is no doubt that drones can do good.

This Technical Proposal describes the details.

In the Media

• BBC Click, 20 April 2015:
  “The swarming drones that can float on water“
• NBC News, 20 February 2015:
  “Eco-Drones Aid Researchers in Fight to Save the Environment“
• CNN, 04 February 2015:
  “These drones have a higher calling“
• BetaBoston, 02 February 2015:
  “MIT’s entry in Dubai’s ‘Drones For Good’ contest is a drone swarm that can land on water“
• Next City, 17 November 2014:
  “The Technology That Everyone Thinks Is Evil Can Do Good in Cities“