Can drones help find meteorites?
Yes. Drones with cameras can photograph large areas, and computer programs trained to spot meteorites can flag candidates for searchers to check.
Searching for meteorites on foot is slow and tiring. In recent years, scientists and hunters have begun using drones to speed up the process.
How it works. A drone flies over a predicted fall area at low altitude, taking thousands of high-resolution photographs. Software then scans the images for objects that look like meteorites: dark, rounded stones on lighter ground, of the right size. Machine-learning programs can be trained using pictures of real meteorites placed on similar ground, and of common look-alikes.
Success stories. Australia's Desert Fireball Network, with colleagues, used drones and machine learning to find a meteorite from a fireball over Western Australia in 2021, among the first recoveries made this way. Other teams have tested the approach in deserts and farmland.
Advantages. Drones can cover large areas quickly, reach places that are hard to walk, and keep a permanent record. They are especially useful in flat, open terrain with few look-alike stones.
Limitations. Drones struggle in tall vegetation, woodland and fields full of dark stones. Many false positives need checking on foot. Battery life limits flight time, and wind and rain prevent flying.
Rules. In many countries, drone flying is regulated. In the UK, for example, operators must follow rules on registration, flying heights, distances from people and buildings, and permission to fly over private land. Check the current rules before flying, and always get the landowner's permission.