W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians

The W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians rely on a large DJI Matrice M30 drone for habitat‑monitoring flights that protect local whale populations. Launching and recovering the drone from a moving boat, however, was high‑risk: every take‑off or landing jeopardized the aircraft, the operators, and the continuity of their environmental work. A custom solution was needed to make these operations safer and more reliable in demanding marine conditions.

Morin 3D partnered with the Guardians on a needs‑based design process, creating a specialized catch handle precisely tailored to the Matrice M30 airframe. Through rapid prototyping, multiple iterations were developed and tested to ensure the handle was ergonomic, efficient, and clear of all onboard sensors and instruments. Once the design met every requirement, the final handle was produced in a material chosen for high strength and resistance to corrosive ocean environments.

The W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians now deploy and retrieve their drone with a custom‑fit handle that minimizes risk to both equipment and crew during critical launch and recovery phases, allowing uninterrupted whale‑habitat monitoring in challenging conditions.