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PixieDrone

Removing weeds and trash from Tahoe’s waters

See it in action
The PixieDrone hums along the water's surface, gathering floating aquatic invasive weeds, trash and even gas spills to leave a cleaner, clearer Lake Tahoe.
POLLUTION AND INVASIVE SPECIES THREATEN LAKE TAHOE

Aquatic invasive plants and trash threaten the unique water quality and clarity for which Tahoe is known. Floating debris like plastic litter can leach chemicals into the aquatic environment, while each individual fragment of an invasive weed represents a new potential infestation and further harm to the Lake’s fragile ecology.

Removing weeds and water-borne trash helps ensure the Lake’s health and our enjoyment of it.

To Keep Tahoe Blue, the League teamed up with ECO-CLEAN Solutions and the Tahoe Keys Marina to bring the PixieDrone to our alpine lake. This battery-powered, autonomous and programmable, motorized skimmer glides across the water’s surface, gathering debris.

– Read the PixieDrone’s debut announcement. –

PILOT TESTING IN THE TAHOE KEYS MARINA

The Tahoe Keys Marina is almost entirely infested with aquatic invasive plants. As boats leave the marina, plants are carried into the Lake, threatening to start new infestations when they settle to the bottom and resprout.

The PixieDrone will corral, collect and remove the harmful weeds, so they can’t spread. It will also be paired with other weed control technologies, like bubble curtains, to increase efficacy. It is currently being tested in the Tahoe Keys Marina where data is being collected and operations perfected for potential future use in other parts of Tahoe.

If successful, the technology – alone and in concert with other innovative methods – can serve as a model for other water bodies around the world that face invasive species challenges. 

PixieDrone in the Tahoe Keys Marina
PixieDrone in the Tahoe Keys Marina

PixieDrone Performance Features

PixieDrone skimming near boat slips in the Tahoe Keys Marina.
PixieDrone in the Tahoe Keys Marina
Aquatic weeds in the PixieDrone's hopper
Autonomous:
Equipped with Lidar technology (light detection and ranging) to avoid obstacles. Unlimited number of programmable routes.
Connected:
WebApp to deploy and track activity. Equipped with a video camera.
Powerful:
35 gallon debris collection capacity per mission. Up to six hours of continuous operation.
A NOVEL SOLUTION TO A PERSISTENT PROBLEM

While Tahoe’s attraction as a travel destination increases, so too does the stress on its ecosystem. From beach litter to microplastics, Tahoe faces serious pollution pressures.

Traditional methods for tackling litter on the land and in the water are no longer sufficient. The PixieDrone is the first technology of its kind to be used on the West Coast. Like its robotic, beach-cleaning cousin BEBOT, the PixieDrone represents a novel approach to mitigating environmental impacts.

In addition to collecting invasive weeds and plastic trash destined to become microplastics, the robot can also clean up gas spills and be fitted with scientific equipment to assess water quality.

The League, ECO-CLEAN and the Tahoe Keys Marina know that these new tools, if they prove effective, will bolster time-tested techniques and elevate the standard for environmental protection at home in the Sierra and abroad.

Learn about our other robots