📅 December 2025: “Antarctica — Science & Experience from the Air”
In December, we travelled to Antarctica to assess how drones can add real value to both scientific research and guest experience in a polar expedition setting. Our aim was to move beyond novelty and focus on disciplined, low-impact operations that enhance understanding of the environment while respecting Antarctica’s strict protections.
From a scientific perspective, drones enable safe and repeatable collection of high-resolution imagery, coastal maps, ice-condition data, and wildlife observations without placing researchers in hazardous locations. For guests, these same flights provide critical context—revealing the scale of glaciers, ice flows, and landing sites in ways not possible from a ship or zodiac. When integrated into onboard briefings and post-expedition media, aerial data becomes a powerful educational tool rather than just visual spectacle.
Operating in Antarctica demands precision and restraint. Cold temperatures, strong winds, wildlife exclusion zones, and ship-based launch and recovery all shape how drones can be used responsibly. When these constraints are respected, drones serve as a shared asset—improving scientific outcomes while deepening guest experiences, all without compromising the continent’s leave-no-trace principles.
Evaluating drone operations for scientific data collection and guest experience in Antarctica.