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Duke drone lab retools for face shields

With his drone lab closed for the coronavirus outbreak, a Duke engineer starts 3-D printing face shields for first-responders.

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By
Richard Adkins
, WRAL photojournalist
BEAUFORT, N.C. — Duke University's Julian Dale, lead engineer at the Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, dropped off a box of face shields at the Beaufort Fire Department. He made the shields on a 3-D printer in his garage.

The Duke lab is currently closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Dale is not a man who likes to sit around and do nothing.

“Been printing flat out since since last weekend,” he said.

Normally the 3-D printer creates specialized parts for research drones. But rather than let the equipment sit idle, Dale knew he could help.

Making face shields (Julian Dale photos)

“Especially living in a community, you know, like Beaufort.” Dale said. “We're obviously hit by hurricanes, so, you know, I think there's a good community spirit to help out in these kind of situations.”

Help is exactly what Beaufort Mayor Rett Newton could use. There is a limited supply of face shields on the market, Dale and the Duke lab are donating part of what they make to Beuafort first-responders.

“This transition from from drone work to protective measures for our first responders and medical professionals is just an outstanding initiative,” Newton said.

Newton is also a PHD student at the Duke Marine Lab. He jumped at the chance to use Dale's generosity to help his town.

“Oh, I absolutely did,” Dale said, “And it's one of those things that I asked our first responders first if they would be interested in that, and they enthusiastically said yes!”

Making face shields (Julian Dale photo)

“For me, it's been quite a good distraction, to be honest," Dale said. "Being able to feel like you can actually do something positive rather than just kind of sit down an watch things unfold.”

Dale is committed to doing his part to make working conditions safer for those on the front lines.

“You know, as long as there's a need there, and we can still get hold of the materials," Dale said. "We'll just, we'll just keep printing them out.”

Dale is also donating the face shields to local healthcare workers.

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