When Draper developed a technology capable of detecting microplastics in marine environments, the EPA saw its potential to measure an invisible yet pervasive threat. Microplastics—far smaller than the debris we see on beaches—pose a growing risk to ocean health and, increasingly, human life. To transform this innovation into action, Sprout was engaged to design a drone that could autonomously detect, analyze, and geolocate microplastic contamination across the globe’s waterways.

Working closely with Draper’s scientists and engineers, our industrial design team translated complex technology into a functional, field-ready autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The drone is engineered with a large intake system to collect microplastic-rich water samples, onboard processing for real-time analysis, and heatmap telemetry to send actionable data to the EPA. Thoughtfully integrated thrusters, rudders, and proximity sensors ensure agile maneuvering through complex aquatic terrain, while the chassis was designed for efficient deployment and retrieval. A self-docking, wind-powered charging buoy extends mission duration and reflects the project’s commitment to sustainability.

The result is the world’s first real-time microplastic-sensing drone. Capable of skimming the top nine meters of water—where most microplastics accumulate—the AUV identifies specific particle types, traces their sources, and visualizes data through location-based mapping. This enables researchers to track contamination trends, identify pollution hotspots, and inform prevention strategies.

The project’s impact has been widely recognized—earning spots on both TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of the Year list and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas. Beyond the hardware, this initiative is part of a broader design effort with Draper to build a cohesive visual brand language across product categories. Looking ahead, Draper aims to make this data publicly available through the Plastic Particle Pollution Index (pppindex.info), an open-source platform poised to become the marine equivalent of the World Air Quality Index.