Outreach Robotics
Outreach Robotics is a leader in developing cutting-edge aerial robotics solutions for remote and challenging environments. Our versatile products and custom-made solutions, which played a key role in winning the XPrize Rainforest Biodiversity Tech Competition, are designed to explore and operate in previously unreachable locations. Whether it’s for environmental sciences, forestry, or infrastructure inspection, our custom robotic solutions are adaptable for a wide range of applications
Drone Delivery
Drones can fly up to 3km from a base station to deliver rafts of sensors in the canopy.
Customizable Raft and Sensors
Canopy rafts can be equipped with an array of sensor. Each raft can be customized to meet individual monitoring needs.
Habitat Sampling
Habitat Sampling
Using drones and custom sampling tools, customer-specific samples can be collected in a study site (e.g., water, surface, leaves, soil, etc.)
Rubisco AI
Rubisco AI's XPRIZE Rainforest winning canopy tree mapping solution allows a single person, in a single day, to map tens of thousands of canopy trees across hundreds of hectares of forest, using a drone equipped with a red-green-blue (RGB) camera. Our solution is designed around the DJI Mavic 3 Entreprise (M3E) drone and its dual wide-angle / telephoto RGB camera, although other similar drones could be used.
For a turnkey solution, Rubisco AI has partnered with Limelight Rainforest who can cost-effectively perform the drone data acquisition for your canopy mapping projects. While it would also be possible to acquire the data yourself, we recommend this turnkey solution.
Notable details:
- Three kilometer range from takeoff point.
- A single drone pilot can map up to 400ha in a single day
- A single drone pilot can acquire up to 400 close-up photos in a single day
- Process ~100ha of forest in ~1.5 hours
Orthomosaic
High-resolution (~2 cm/pixel) color orthomosaics provide detailed and accurately georeferenced canopy basemaps. Orthomosaics are used to segment individual tree crowns with our AI models.
Digital Surface Model
Digital surface models (DSM) represent the elevation of every pixel for the entire canopy. Our DSMs are as accurate as LiDAR and are used to guide the acquisition of close-up photos for selected trees. They can also be used to estimate tree height if a digital terrain model of the area is available.
Segmented Trees
Close-up Photos of Selected Trees
Close-up Photos of Selected Trees
Our AI model automatically segments every canopy tree from the orthomosaic. These segmentations can be used to locate and count trees and estimate their sizes. Close-up photos can be acquired for selected segmented trees to provide species identification or estimate liana cover.
Close-up Photos of Selected Trees
Close-up Photos of Selected Trees
Close-up Photos of Selected Trees
We can send the drone back to the exact position of any segmented tree and acquire close-up photos that provide a high level of detail to identify tree and liana taxa, and to estimate tree or liana cover.
SELVATEK
SELVATEK is an Ecuadorian company owned by members of indigenous groups and local peoples from the Napo region of Ecuador. Our mission is to support biomonitoring and basic research enhanced by new technologies leveraging AI, robotics, drones, imaging, and acoustic species recognition. SELVATEK is committed to teaching the next generation of amazonian people the value of biodiversity and helping them leverage technology to support economic sustainability in tropical forest communities. Selvatek leaders are professional guides and leaders in the ecotourism sector. They are ready to engage with clients interested in developing databases, logistical supply chains, and field resources in the remote regions of Ecuador.
TraceDNA
TraceDNA is leveraging the award-winning genetic solution from the XPRIZE Rainforest winning team - Limelight Rainforest - to aid in documenting and preserving biodiversity. We use the latest tools and technologies to develop our products and pipelines. Our portable labs and in-house facilities are equipped with the latest equipment and software, and our team of scientists and researchers have many years of experience in developing solutions for conservation genetics ensuring we meet and exceed biodiversity measuring standards. We offer rapid, high quality, on-site biodiversity monitoring and measuring services designed to cater to your specific needs, contributing to the global effort to preserve our natural ecosystems.
Aquatic and Terrestrial environmental DNA analysis
At TraceDNA, we excel in collecting and analyzing terrestrial environmental DNA (eDNA) especially from water, air and plant surfaces. Our methodologies were part of the XPRIZE Rainforest winning solution and following biodiversity genetic standards to generate high quality data.
In-field, on-site laboratory
We use the latest tools and technologies to develop our protocols and data pipelines. Our portable labs are equipped with the latest equipment and software, and our team of scientists and researchers are constantly exploring new ways to improve efficiency in data processing in the field. No matter where you are, we bring the laboratory to you.
Hands-on Training
TraceDNA is committed to ethical and responsible open research and development. We believe in putting people first, and we are dedicated to developing protocols and methodologies that are effective, and accessible to all. Whether you are thinking about setting up an environmental DNA lab, or just wanting some hands-on training to do everything in the field, please reach out, we would love to help you set up your own space.
Insect Barcoding
Insects play a critical role in the ecosystem. Therefore, in partnership with various organizations and researchers, TraceDNA is committed to barcoding insects to help build genetic databases that will aid in identification of species in remote tropical rainforests.
Limelight Insects
Insects, among the most diverse organisms on earth, are underutilized in traditional biodiversity surveys due to there overwhelming diversity and the taxonomic complexities they present. We tackle these challenges head-on, combining AI identification of individuals attracted to lights, with DNA barcoding of collected individuals. Our survey methodologies provide valuable insights into overall biodiversity, as well as deliver important information on endangered or potentially invasive species, as well as species of economic importance such as crop pests.
Digital Detection and Identification
Specimen Collection and Identification
Specimen Collection and Identification
Insects are attracted to the camera traps where digital images are captured. Digital images are then run through our proprietary AI system to crop and identify individual insects.
Specimen Collection and Identification
Specimen Collection and Identification
Specimen Collection and Identification
Limelight rafts may be equipped with different insect traps to collect specimens. The specimens can then be identified by DNA barcoding with our partners at TraceDNA or through classic entomological techniques.
Limelight Acoustics
The Nature Node Acoustic System is an integrated multi-microphone solution that provides multi-directional coverage of the acoustic environment for sound localization. The array of microphones are optimized for ‘beamforming’ which enhances the signal-to-noise ratio by focusing on specific sound sources.
Directional Recording and Identification
Directional Recording and Identification
Directional Recording and Identification
Each NatureNode includes 8 microphones in a cuboid shape. Each microphone is protected in an individual enclosure with a small opening, protected by UV- and water-resistant treated foam, ensuring their durability. Data collected from NatureNode are then run through AI software for identification of specific taxa groups (e.g., birds, bats, anurans, etc.) or for soundscape analysis.
Tracking and Mapping movements
Directional Recording and Identification
Directional Recording and Identification
Our revolutionary NatureNode acoustic system gives us an innovative method for tracking the movement, territories, and spatial segregation of species in the canopy. Such analysis allows us to investigate animal behavior such as bird feeding guilds and tree species preferences. Such techniques can be applied to other taxa that have identifiable sounds such as primates, frogs, bats, and more.
About Us
Who we are
Limelight Rainforest is a special project of Population Biology Foundation. We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals focused on deploying our XPRIZE Rainforest winning solution to biodiversity conservation.
In forming Limelight Rainforest, we built on a shared desire to positively impact the future of tropical rainforests and the indigenous people that depend upon them for survival. Every one of us is prepared to act on a profound optimism that a better understanding of nature and humanity can improve the quality of life for humans and the natural world we inhabit.