从冰岛到六大洲：鲸鱼研究无人机设备如何成为全球工具

What began as a lightweight sensor system attached to a drone above a pod of humpback whales off the Icelandic coast has quietly evolved into a global research tool used across six continents. The device, known as WHASER, was developed by UK-based R&D agency Tandem Ventures in partnership with Bambu Lab, leveraging advanced 3D printing technology to accelerate design and deployment. This shift from a single-project prototype to a widely adopted instrument highlights how additive manufacturing is transforming marine conservation fieldwork.

从冰岛到六大洲：一个用于鲸鱼研究的无人机设备如何成长为全球性工具

WHASER was initially designed with a straightforward premise: make marine mammal measurement faster, safer, and more accessible without the logistical burden that typically slows field science. The system uses a drone-mounted sensor to collect biometric data from whales, replacing traditional methods that often require expensive boats, specialized crews, and unpredictable weather windows. Over several months of testing, WHASER collected data on more than 115 humpback whales off Iceland, confirming the concept’s viability.

最初只是附在冰岛海岸一群座头鲸上方的无人机上的轻量传感器系统，如今已悄然演变为一种跨越六大洲的全球研究工具。这款名为WHASER的设备由英国研发机构Tandem Ventures与Bambu Lab合作开发，利用先进的3D打印技术加速了设计与部署。从单一项目的原型到被广泛采用的仪器，这一转变凸显了增材制造如何改变海洋保护实地工作。

But the story didn’t end with a published paper. Researchers from the US, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia began reaching out, wanting to deploy WHASER in their own environments. This demand forced the team to rethink the device for global use, adapting it to conditions ranging from Hawaii’s humidity to Chile’s winds and African coastal climates. The result is a tool that works reliably across vastly different ecosystems, a testament to the iterative power of 3D printing in research hardware.

WHASER最初的设计理念非常简单：使海洋哺乳动物的测量更快、更安全、更易获取，同时避免通常拖累实地科学的物流负担。该系统使用无人机搭载的传感器收集鲸鱼的生物特征数据，取代了传统方法——这些方法通常需要昂贵的船只、专业团队以及难以预测的天气窗口。经过几个月的测试，WHASER在冰岛收集了超过115头座头鲸的数据，证实了该概念的可行性。

The transition from a single-use prototype to a global product required significant redesign. Battery capacity was increased to handle longer fieldwork timelines without pausing for recharging. The overall weight was reduced to just 170 grams, with every gram carefully considered for remote environments where kit load is a real constraint. Internal geometry was tightened to keep components secure during transit, and weather sealing around the LiDAR unit was improved. Circuitry was updated for efficiency, and the interface was simplified to an always-on display with no wake button, because the right tool reduces friction rather than introducing it.

但故事并没有随着一篇论文的发表而结束。来自美国、南美、欧洲、非洲和澳大利亚的研究人员开始联系团队，希望在自己的环境中部署WHASER。这一需求迫使团队重新设计设备以适应全球使用，使其适应从夏威夷的湿度到智利的风力以及非洲沿海气候等不同条件。结果是一款能够在截然不同的生态系统中可靠运行的工具，这证明了3D打印在研究硬件中的迭代力量。

The team also developed a custom hard case with 3D printed internal structures shaped around the device itself, allowing researchers to arrive at a site and begin work immediately. In marine fieldwork, where access windows open and close with the tide, setup time is not a minor detail. Today, each WHASER unit ships with a trackable serial number, monitored and supported across a global deployment network—an accountability structure that distinguishes a sustained product from a one-time project.

从一次性原型到全球产品的转变需要重大的重新设计。电池容量被增加以应对更长的实地工作时间，而无需暂停充电。总重量减少到仅170克，每一个克都经过精心考虑，以适应装备负载成为真正限制的偏远环境。内部几何结构被收紧，以确保组件在运输过程中保持稳固，LiDAR单元周围的防水密封也得到了改进。电路更新以提高效率，界面简化为始终开启的显示屏，无需唤醒按钮——因为正确的工具应减少摩擦而非引入摩擦。

Marine conservation field research has long been constrained by costly, slow-to-iterate hardware that struggles to survive real ocean conditions. 3D printing is changing that, giving research teams the ability to design, test, and refine tools at a pace that matches the urgency of the work. The WHASER project is a prime example: using additive manufacturing, the team could move components directly from development into deployment, treating design and manufacturing as a single, fluid process.

团队还开发了一个定制硬壳箱，内部采用3D打印结构，形状与设备本身相匹配，使研究人员到达现场后能立即开始工作。在海洋实地工作中，当潮汐决定了访问窗口的开闭时，设置时间绝非小事。如今，每个WHASER单元都配有可追踪的序列号，在全球部署网络中受到监控和支持——这种问责结构将可持续产品与一次性项目区分开来。

This application of 3D printing extends beyond prototyping into full-scale field infrastructure. For researchers and hobbyists alike, access to high-quality premium STL files makes it easier to create custom parts for scientific equipment, drone accessories, or marine monitoring devices. Whether you’re building a specialized sensor housing or a rugged case for field gear, the ability to print durable, lightweight components on demand is revolutionizing how we approach outdoor and underwater research.

长期以来，海洋保护实地研究一直受限于成本高昂、迭代缓慢且难以在真实海洋环境中生存的硬件。3D打印正在改变这一状况，使研究团队能够以与工作紧迫性相匹配的速度设计、测试和优化工具。WHASER项目就是一个典型例子：通过使用增材制造，团队可以直接将组件从开发阶段转入部署阶段，将设计与制造视为一个连贯的过程。

The WHASER story offers valuable insights for anyone using 3D printing for functional projects:

3D打印的这种应用已超越原型制作，扩展到全面的实地基础设施。对于研究人员和爱好者来说，获取高质量的优质STL文件使得为科学设备、无人机配件或海洋监测设备制作定制零件变得更加容易。无论您是在构建专门的传感器外壳还是用于野外装备的坚固箱体，按需打印耐用、轻量组件的能力正在彻底改变我们对待户外和水下研究的方式。

For those looking to create their own functional 3D printed tools, exploring a library of 3D printing models can provide inspiration and ready-to-use designs for everything from drone parts to marine research equipment.

WHASER is part of a broader trend where additive manufacturing is reshaping marine conservation. Similar projects include Nereid, a digitally fabricated marine habitat by Zaha Hadid Architects and D-Shape, and BioShelters, 3D printed structures deployed in Sydney Harbour to restore oyster habitats. These examples show that 3D printing can produce bio-mimetic reef structures, habitat restoration tools, and monitoring devices that are both cost-effective and highly specialized.

As the WHASER team continues to support deployments across six continents, the device stands as a model for how research hardware can evolve from a local experiment to a global tool. For the 3D printing community, it’s a reminder that the technology’s greatest potential lies not in producing static objects, but in enabling rapid, responsive design that meets the real needs of people working on the front lines of science and conservation.

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