241. Moby Dick Finally Gets a Fitbit

The Next Byte Podcast · 24 Feb 2026 · 16m

What this episode covers

The hosts discuss Ocean Alliance's innovative use of drones and 3D printing to study whale health non-invasively. They detail the evolution from the 'Snotbot' drone for snot analysis to 'smart darts' that act as Fitbits, monitoring whale behavior and physiology. The conversation highlights how additive manufacturing, specifically with Ultimaker printers, enables rapid iteration, interchangeable drone payloads, and on-site repairs in remote locations like Antarctica.

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