The study of the dense Amazon forests with its thick vegetation and biodiversity has always been a challenge for researchers due to its inaccessible terrain.

Now, the drones that were used for filming movies like Skyfall have been adapted and repurposed to withstand the heat and humidity of the rainforests to study the ecosystems.

Powerful ‘Hexacopters’

Life in Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest is a world in itself with several life forms thriving in the rich ecosystem. However, it has been very arduous to study the various habitats of the forest as well as to assess how the forest responds to climate change, deforestation and fire. Scientists would rely on limited data collected form towers, aircraft, and satellites to help them understand the habitat.

There is good news now as powerful hexacopters (drones having six blades) that were used for filming thrilling Hollywood scenes have now been specially adapted to study the dense and impenetrable Amazon forest.

How Drones Work

Instead of filming or taking pictures, scientists fix a one-kilogram chemical-sensing package that acts like an electronic nose sensing the forest. The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are set forth from old observation towers near the Amazon. The sensors are able to ascertain from vapours released by plants in drought or flood situations how plants adapt to stressors such as climate change and extreme weather.

Scientists are certain that they will be able to learn a lot from research on the Amazon forests with the help of these powerful drones.