Drones
1/27/202615 min
Drones, or autonomous sensing systems, step in where humans can’t. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, scientists are developing machines that can see, decide and act in real time. In this episode, we explore how drones expand the frontier of possibility: scanning hidden pipelines underground, navigating dangerous terrain and coordinating swarms across land, air, and water. These aren’t just flying cameras. They’re intelligence-gathering systems, force multipliers and life-saving tools.
Guests featured (in order of appearance):
Brian Wihl, Associate Program Lead for Autonomous Sensors Program, LLNLJames Reimer, Mechanical Engineer for Autonomous Sensors Program, LLNL
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 0· Host0:02
The storm hits before anyone is ready. [thunder] Rain turns to torrents. Torrents turn to rivers. Strong waters pull away everything with them: cars, trees, homes, entire lives swept away in minutes. And for the rescuers who go in after them, every second is a risk. When disaster strikes or danger is present, humans can't always go in first, so another kind of responder takes the lead. Self-driving vehicles advance slowly, scanning for signs of life amidst the chaos of debris-strewn streets. Above, a self-piloted aircraft maps the damage from the sky, spotting movement. Beneath the surface, autonomous underwater systems cut through currents, scanning hidden waterways for survivors. And together, they act as one coordinated force, land, air, and water, all increasing the chances of security and survival.
James Remer· Guest1:09
That's really rewarding to see how that can actually make a huge difference for a lot of lives.
Speaker 0· Host1:13
This is the world of autonomous sensing at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where science advances quickly, adapts constantly, and technology navigates where humans can't go, but drones can.