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Saildrone passes through drawbridge in Charlevoix, MI

By Communications and Publishing
A saildrone, an orange autonomous sailing vessel, passes through an open drawbridge
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Detailed Description

A Saildrone Explorer passes under a bridge during its launch in July 2023 in Charlevoix, MI.

The USGS worked with Saildrone, Inc., to launch an autonomous surface vehicle called a Saildrone Explorer into Lake Michigan out of Charlevoix, Michigan, on July 19, 2023. The vehicle is equipped with several environmental sensors both under and above the water, including a fisheries echosounder that uses sound to detect fish, much like a fish-finder on a fishing boat, and is operated by Saildrone. It will conduct assessments in northern Lake Michigan and throughout Lake Huron through the end of September, 2023.

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Sources/Usage

Copyright Saildrone, Inc. Permission granted for use by USGS and for use by interested media in communicating about the event in newsbroadcasts or newspapers, in print or online.