Video spotlight: Seatrec

In the past decade, drones have revolutionized the way we observe, predict and understand the ocean, exploring parts of our planet that are out of reach for ships and divers. But most drones are still powered by batteries, which means that when the battery dies, the drone and sensor die with it. Each year, about a thousand drones—or the equivalent of 2 million AA batteries—sink to the bottom of the ocean and must be replaced.

Yi Chao, a rocket scientist who spent 20 years with NASA, has a solution. His company, Seatrec, is powering drones with renewable energy by harnessing natural temperature changes in the ocean. Learn more from Chao’s presentation at the 2019 Schmidt Marine Technology Showcase.