We did it, thanks to you!
Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your support! This campaign surpassed our crowdfunding goal and we are now in a position to outfit our drone team with even more sophisticated equipment.
The next step for the students will be to incorporate the detection and tracking algorithms into the drone’s software. An X8 long-range surveillance drone has been selected for the project—this model is relatively quiet, has a 25-mile flight range, and a 3-hr battery life.
We plan to post updates on the project’s progress—stay tuned for reports from the field. With your help, we’re making strides towards a safer future for elephants in the wild.
With gratitude,
Tufts Elephant Conservation Alliance, and Students of the Vision and Sensing Systems Lab
$20
Drone Propellers
This allows us to replace damaged propellers which can cause excessive vibration.
$40
3DR Battery Chargers
Purchase the 3DR battery chargers necessary for adequate flight time/range.
$100
Range Extender Antenna
A DBS range extender antenna will allow far greater flight range without losing signal reception.
$250
Camera Stablization
Add a 3-axis gimbal to the equipment which will stabilize and smooth the panning and gliding features of our drone’s camera.
$2,000
Thermal Camera
A thermal camera on a drone can gather accurate, non-contact temperature measurements and distinguish sick from healthy elephants.
