Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has announced that it has been awarded a five-year, $900,000 research grant by the U.S. Office of Naval Research to develop advanced communication, perception and energy systems for unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

Eric Coyle, associate professor of mechanical engineering on the Daytona Beach Campus, will serve as principal investigator for the project. Coyle will work with his colleagues Brian Butka, associate professor of electrical engineering; Patrick Currier, associate professor of mechanical engineering; graduate students Stephen Cronin, Marco Schoener and David Thompson; and undergraduate student Jefferson Romney.

Developing stealthier ways for unmanned vessels on the ocean’s surface to communicate with unmanned underwater vehicles such as submarines will be one focus of the research initiative. Typically, the researchers explained, underwater communication technology relies on low bandwidth and expensive acoustic devices. To address this issue, the researchers are investigating the potential use of technology normally used on these unmanned systems as emitters and receivers. The goal is to characterize how best to communicate in this manner, and to assess the data rates that can be achieved.

Researchers will also explore strategies to enhance the situational awareness of USVs through short- and long-range detection, classification and speed estimation of maritime objects using multi-model sensing.

Further, the team will develop hybrid energy system architectures in an effort to increase the energy efficiency of USVs so that they can remain on station longer. This work will involve finding ways to balance renewable sources such as wind and solar power with traditional energy sources such as batteries and diesel generators.

Testing and evaluation of the proposed communication, perception and energy systems will leverage Embry-Riddle’s Minion research platform – a 16-foot autonomous research vessel equipped with high-performance computing, an autonomous sensor suite, two brushless thrusters and substantial battery capacity.

The university will bring extensive robotics expertise to the new research project.

“Embry-Riddle is one of the few schools to compete in the Maritime RobotX Challenge, Roboboat and RoboSub competitions, which are collegiate competitions sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation,” the researchers noted in their grant proposal. “Furthermore, Embry-Riddle is the only school to compete in the AUVSI competitions which cover the maritime, air and ground domains.

The group also noted that Embry-Riddle has been a two-time winner of the Roboboat competition, a fourth-place finisher in the 2016 Maritime RobotX competition and a top 10 finisher in five of the six 2016 competitions.

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Leidos has announced that it has demonstrated new unmanned maritime capabilities at the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX 2017).

These tests showcase the significant role military autonomy could play in augmenting the Navy’s fleet and expanding missions. The company used R/V Pathfinder, its autonomy test vessel, to autonomously navigate and collect data in an at-sea operational environment. The data was transmitted to multiple base locations using redundant communication paths; a Leidos developed software defined radio with integrated mobile ad hoc network (MANET) software; and a Kongsberg tactical radio link.

During this exercise, the Leidos Pathfinder vessel, equipped with high-resolution sensors, traversed the waters off of Panama City, Florida in autonomous mode, with limited human oversight for safety. The ship surveyed the sea floor and instantaneously transmitted ocean and meteorological data back to shore at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, R.I. and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Panama City. In this autonomous navigation mode, the vessel remained compliant with all International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) requirements based on existing navigation aids and surface contacts, just as a manned vessel would. In addition, Pathfinder conducted a completely autonomous launch and recovery of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating the surface ship survey capability with the ability to perform high-resolution follow-up of features of interest.

“Our participation at ANTX enables us to show our innovative autonomous technology directly to our Navy and government customers,” said retired Rear Admiral Nevin Carr, Leidos vice president and U.S. Navy strategic account executive. “This technology does the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks, keeping our sailors safe, costs down and reducing risk.”

ANTX is a collaborative event where technologists, stakeholders, and warfighters exercise innovations and prototypes at the research and development level before integrating at the operational level.

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ECA Group has announced that it has extended the capabilities of its INSPECTOR MK2 Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) to provide faster data transfer while linked to other unmanned systems. Premium equipment has been selected and tested in real-world conditions to complete and qualify ECA Group’s radio communication solutions for its USV range.

The INSPECTOR MK2 USV is now able to transfer data and communicate with other unmanned vehicles. With this new capability, the USV can be used as an intelligent docking system for underwater drones system such as AUVs or ROVs, allowing them to be automatically deployed and recovered. It enables recharging and data download, as well as fast transit.

Fitted with an acoustic modem and short baselines for underwater communications and positioning, the USV allows underwater inspection and intervention to be supervised by an operator based in a safe location. The USV’s sonar equipment also makes it an ideal platform for detection of mines as well as obstacles such as nets for safe AUV navigation.

These new communication solutions for the USV meet requirements such as:

• Adaptation/reconfiguration to the customer/mission characteristics, facilitated by compatibility with a multitude of antennas (directivity, gain), online reconfiguration according to Quality of Service, and latency vs. data rate real time mitigation
• Large frequency spectrum, from Ultra high frequency (UHF) to Super High Frequency (SHF)
• Variety of possible communication architectures: Point To Point (PTP), Point To Multi Point (PTMP), Multi Point Interconnection [MESH]
• Compliance with main standards: NATO, National, Civilian – Industrial Scientific and Medical band (ISM)
• Fulfilment of cybersecurity requirements

The USV wireless link provides the data bandwidth necessary to operate the USV and its mission modules up to a maximum Line Of Sight (LOS) distance (typically, with an ashore antenna height of 15 meters, a range of 10 nautical miles can be reached), or significant Non Line Of Sight (NLOS) range due to maritime traffic or land masking (typically, 10 nautical miles range is also reached despite a 50m height obstacle).

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Oceanalpha, a leading developer of autonomous and unmanned surface vessels (USVs), has partnered with Unmanned Systems Technology (“UST”) to demonstrate their expertise in this field. The ‘Silver’ profile showcases their range of USV solutions for a wide range of applications including water quality sampling & monitoring, flow measurement, hydrographic survey, oceanographic research, security patrol, search & rescue, and maritime missions, including:

The ESM30 – an autonomous water sampling & monitoring USV designed to provide a fast response to sudden water pollution accidents in difficult or challenging environments, and to conduct water sampling tasks in lakes, rivers or reservoirs. It uses GPS location tracking to follow preset waypoints and mission parameters, navigating autonomously while intelligently avoiding obstacles up to 10m ahead. It can integrate third-party probes for online data acquisition and the creation of water quality contour maps.

The TC40 Underwater Exploration USV is designed to track the source of water pollution, detecting hidden and buried sewage pipes at ranges of up to 100 metres and reporting their locations accurately using GPS. It can capture and transmit images at resolutions of up to 3cm, as well as live video. The TC40 can be operated via manual control or autonomous navigation.

The CL20 is a lightweight vessel with a carbon fiber and fiber glass hull designed for water discharge measurement and hydrographic surveying. It is highly maneuverable and easily operated by just one individual, and can be transported in the back of a truck or SUV. With a maximum speed of 5.5m/s and a 2km control range, the boat is suitable for most water current environments.

The M40A is a medium size autonomous catamaran platform, designed for bathymetry surveys in coastal areas and oceans. With a modular design and flexible payload for instruments, the M40A provides high performance surveys with single or multi beam sonars, as well as different kinds of hydrographic and monitoring instruments. The M40A has an aluminum and carbon fiber hull and is powered by a high capacity lithium polymer battery.

The M75 is a high-speed USV designed for maritime security and patrol missions, as well as use in investigation and evidence collection areas. Constructed from high strength fiber glass, with carbon fiber and kevlar ballistic fabrics the M75 can operate in Sea State 4 conditions. The vessel can be switched between manned and unmanned operational modes.

The L30 is a large USV platform for fire control on water. Equipped with a 50m range professional fire water cannon, it can also carry life rafts and buoys, as well as a crew of 4-6 individuals. Powered by a diesel engine, the L30 can achieve a top speed of 45 knots to provide a rapid response in most sea conditions, up to Sea State 5.

To find out more about Oceanalpha and their complete range of Unmanned Surface Vessels, please visit their profile page:
http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/oceanalpha/

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Cambridge Pixel, a developer of radar display, tracking and recording sub-systems, has announced that it is supplying its radar tracking and fusion software to ASV Global (ASV) to enhance situational awareness on ASV’s range of unmanned boats.

ASV supplies unmanned and autonomous surface vessels for commercial, military and security missions. Its ASView control system supports autonomous and remote control of the vessels and has been deployed on over 80 unmanned new build and retrofitted vessels.

Dave Martin, Head of Control at ASV Global’s UK facility, said, “Effective and reliable tracking of objects around our unmanned surface vehicles is critical to their safe operation. It was therefore important that we chose an experienced and established radar tracking company to assist us in implementing such a capability.”

“Cambridge Pixel’s engineers have worked closely with the ASV software team to not only fully integrate their tracking and sensor fusion capability into our ASView control system but also to optimise its performance and to enhance situational awareness in this very demanding environment,” he added.

Cambridge Pixel’s SPx Server radar tracking software receives radar video from the onboard radars, typically Navico’s Simrad 4G or Halo radars. The processing of video to detect targets of interest uses adaptive algorithms to accommodate a wide range of operating conditions. Initially, plots are extracted as detections from the radar that exceed a background level. These plots are then correlated to differentiate clutter from true targets.

Once the target has passed a confidence test, a provisional track becomes established and is subsequently tracked from scan to scan with a multi-hypothesis, multi-model tracker. Navigation data from the ship is used to compensate for own-ship motion. The output from the tracking server is combined with AIS targets, using the SPx fusion software, and the resultant fused track is provided as a standard ASTERIX or TTM message into ASV’s control software.

Richard Warren, Director of Software, Cambridge Pixel, said, “ASV has developed an advanced multi-sensor platform for autonomous vessels and we are pleased to have provided our tracking and fusion software to enhance situational awareness. Navico’s Simrad 4G and Halo radars are well suited to this application and Cambridge Pixel’s tracker can be configured to make the very best use of these sensors.”

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are vehicles that operate on the surface of the water without a crew. They may be controlled remotely from a ground station or mothership, or operate fully autonomously. A typical surveillance USV is a sensor-rich platform with capabilities for self-guidance and automatic decision making. Radar is the key sensor for most USV applications as it provides the data to steer its course and avoid obstacles.

The market for USVs is growing rapidly, driven by demand from navies and commercial enterprises worldwide for more effective maritime security – to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, to protect shallow waters and ports, and for environmental monitoring.

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Liquid Robotics has announced the next generation of the company’s unmanned surface vehicle (USV) Wave Glider with advancements to the platform’s operational range, and performance for missions in high sea states and high latitudes. Changes also include advancements for expanded sensor payloads and increased energy and storage capacity required for long duration maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring and observation missions.

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“From the very first Wave Glider we’ve had a passion and relentless commitment to make the world’s best unmanned ocean robot,” said Roger Hine, CTO and Co-founder, Liquid Robotics. “With our next generation Wave Glider, we’ve applied learning from approximately 100 years of cumulative water time to enhance an already well-proven design. The result is our Wave Gliders are better prepared than ever before to tackle the dull and dangerous missions.”

Customers conducting exploration and surveillance missions in challenging environments are deploying Wave Gliders to collect and communicate data from locations too remote or too dangerous for manned systems. Operating through a wide range of conditions and oceans around the world, including the Arctic (latitude of 78.76N) and Southern Ocean (latitude of 64.8S), this new version builds on the current platform capabilities with the following innovations:

• Performance in high sea states (sea state 6 and greater)
• Advanced navigation in high latitudes (ex: Arctic and Antarctica)
• Supports 30% heavier payloads to enable new sensors and missions
• 15% greater power collection and 40% more battery storage extends operational range and support for larger sensor payloads
• Anti-biofouling copper coating improves system performance and simplifies maintenance

“As we prepared for our deployment in the Southern Ocean, one of the most inhospitable ocean regions on the planet, it was clear that a successful mission required the next generation Wave Glider enhancements to provide reliable operations across the full spectrum of high seas we would encounter,” said Dr. Eric Terrill of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “We’ve worked with early versions of this platform off the coast of Iceland for an extreme seas study, and the Wave Glider performed admirably even in seas in excess of 10 meters (sea state 8), so we knew for peace of mind, our Southern Ocean project would require a similar configuration.”

For existing customers, an upgrade kit has been developed to expand the capabilities of their existing Wave Glider to match those of the new platform. All sensor integration validated on the current platform is compatible with the new system without new certification.

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BAE Systems has announced NAUTIS 5, the latest version of its flagship Mine Counter Measures (MCM) system, at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition. BAE Systems’ Naval Autonomy Tactical Information System (NAUTIS) is used to counter the threat of naval mines. It is installed on board more than 65 ships from seven navies across the world, including the Royal Navy’s Hunt and Sandown class Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs).

NAUTIS 5 is the result of BAE Systems’ long term investment in MCM capabilities. It incorporates a number of new and improved features including: improved command and control for autonomous and off-board systems, which can be easily integrated thanks to a new Open Architecture; a new and improved Human-Computer Interface (HCI) utilising the latest graphical technologies; and embedded onboard training.

NAUTIS 5’s new autonomous systems capabilities have been developed following BAE Systems’ roles in a number of autonomous systems projects and programmes, such as the Royal Navy’s 2016 Unmanned Warrior exercise, the DSTL Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) consortium and the recently launched National Maritime Autonomy Centre.

For MCM ships using the current version of NAUTIS, a simple upgrade can be installed in short maintenance periods without the need to change on-board consoles. The system uses commercial, off-the-shelf hardware based on Shared Infrastructure technology, an innovative hardware solution that hosts software from multiple combat system technology providers on a single system.

Altogether, NAUTIS 5 offers a reduction in through-life costs, increased operational capabilities, improved user experience, improved agility and the capacity for further growth.

BAE Systems Naval Ships Combat Systems Director, Richard Williams said: “The NAUTIS 5 system is the result of our long term investment and vision for mine countermeasures and autonomy mission systems. We have worked closely with our customers and equipment providers to understand operational needs and how to address them. As a result, we have developed a world class system that keeps BAE Systems at the forefront of the MCM domain and helps to keep trade routes open.”

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UAE-based Al Marakeb Boat Manufacturing Company has integrated its MAP Pro autopilot guidance system, into boats that have been designed to clear debris from water, to create autonomous cleaning USVs.

Developed as part of an environmental initiative undertaken by the UAE government, the seven-meter catamarans feature interchangeable deck configurations allowing a variety of cleaning functions. The cleaning vessel is built with a hydraulic enabled wire-mesh basket which scoops debris from the water, and into a central holding bin that is removed and emptied upon route completion.  Its dual hull structure provides stability while other notable features include its short draft allowing for effective handling and maneuverability in shallow waters.

The catamarans voyage is controlled via the MAP Pro, an autonomous conversion device, and the route is designed with multiple way-points and speed configurations which are operated and monitored from an on-shore control station.

Al Marakeb made waves in the maritime market, when it launched the first of its kind USV conversion device, MAP Pro, in 2016. The highly advanced system provides the ability to autonomously control any maritime vessel.

The Director of Operations, Nour Al Sayyed said in a statement, “Driverless technology and unmanned vehicles have become today’s reality around the world. With the recent announcements of autonomous car initiatives in the UAE, the consumer market in the region is also adapting focus towards the development of technology in this field”.

From cleaning boats to transportation and coastal surveillance, the USV manufacturer is currently taking on projects in the GCC, Europe and South East Asia.

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Rolls-Royce has announced that it has revealed plans for an autonomous naval vessel with a range of 3500 nautical miles. The vessel concept is capable of operating beyond the horizon for over 100 days, will displace 700 tonnes and reach speeds above 25 knots. The 60m long vessel is designed to perform a range of single role missions, such as patrol & surveillance, mine detection or fleet screening.

According to Benjamin Thorp, Rolls-Royce, General Manager Naval Electrics, Automation and Control, “Rolls-Royce is seeing interest from major navies in autonomous, rather than remote controlled, ships. Such ships offer a way to deliver increased operational capability, reduce the risk to crew and cut both operating and build costs. Over the next 10 years or so, Rolls-Royce expects to see the introduction of medium sized unmanned platforms, particularly in leading navies, as the concept of mixed manned and unmanned fleets develops. With our experience and capabilities we expect to lead the field.”

Larger manned ships will cover multi-role missions. Allowing fleet composition to be mixed in this way, navies will reap the operational and cost benefits offered by autonomous technology.

The initial design features a full electric propulsion system which requires fewer auxiliary systems (lubrication, cooling system etc.) and offers better reliability levels than mechanical counterparts. It features two Rolls-Royce MTU 4000 Series gensets providing around 4MW electrical power to a 1.5MW propulsion drive. An alternative to diesel engines could be small gas turbines, further improving the system’s reliability and reducing onboard maintenance. Permanent Magnet Azipull thrusters together with a bow mounted tunnel thruster will make the vessel highly manoeuvrable. To reduce fuel consumption and extend operational range an additional 3000 kWh of energy storage will facilitate efficient low speed loiter operations and the vessel will also be fitted with photovoltaic solar panels to generate power when the vessel is on standby.

The absence of crew increases the need for reliable power and propulsion systems. Rolls-Royce’s approach is to blend advanced Intelligent Asset Management and system redundancy in a cost effective manner that avoids sacrificing the cost and volume savings achieved by removing the crew. A suite of autonomous support tools, developed by Rolls-Royce, such as Energy Management, Equipment Health Monitoring and predictive and remote maintenance, will ensure the availability of unmanned vessels.

Many of the technologies needed to make autonomous ships a reality already exist. Rolls-Royce has created what it believes to be the world’s first Intelligent Awareness System combining multiple sensors with Artificial Intelligence, to help commercial vessels operate more safely and efficiently. Significant analysis of potential cyber risks is also being undertaken to ensure end-to-end security.

Autonomous technology presents an opportunity to automate certain parts of the ship’s operations and the partial removal of sailors reduces operating costs and improves safety by limiting the number of people exposed to hazards.

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MAP Marine Technologies (MAP-Tech) has announced that the company will be launching a new and improved second generation of its MAP Pro conversion kit, which allows autonomous control of any marine vessel, turning it into an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV). The official launch is set to take place at the Seatrade Offshore Marine Event in Abu Dhabi.

“The remainder of the year will not be any less eventful, if not more so; with the release of several products and developments. Beginning with the new MAP Pro, the new version will be introduced to the market at Seatrade this September by one of our leading distributors Exalto Emirates. It will also debut at GITEX-Dubai, ADIPEC- Abu Dhabi, and as far as the Pacific 2017: International Maritime Expo in Sydney, Australia,” commented Ms. Nour Al Sayyed, Director of Operations at MAP-Tech.

A spokesperson for Exalto Emirates said: “Autonomous vessel control is the way of the future, that’s why we are very proud and enthusiastic to be representing MAP-Tech. They are producing a highly innovative solution, and we look forward to demonstrating the product to our customers at Seatrade.”

The MAP Pro conversion allows any regular vessel to be controlled autonomously with way-point design and tracking capabilities as well as speed control. It has a redundant processor for added security, integrates with third party devices directly without the need for a router, and can be programmed to carry out failsafe routines if required. The relaunch has also redesigned the look of the system to match its upgraded skills.

Director of Robotics at MAP-Tech, Mr. Adnane El Soussi, explained: “When we designed the system, we focused on modularity, ease of installation and ease of use. Modularity allows the freedom to adapt the product to any required application.”

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Thales has announced that, following successful trials during the Royal Navy’s Unmanned Warrior exercise in 2016, the company is now investing in two trials and training centres based in West Wales and in South-West England to test and develop autonomous systems for both military and civil activities.

Thales will invest £7 million (€8 million) across the two regions, and sustain around 60 jobs in the local areas. There are currently 500 jobs both in Thales and its supply chain supporting current and future autonomous and unmanned systems technologies.

The new £1 million facility in Turnchapel Wharf, Plymouth will be Thales’s maritime autonomy trials and training centre. The five year commitment by Thales secures 20 jobs and the aspiration to continue to grow the company’s footprint. This waterfront facility will provide access to trials areas for development of cutting edge maritime autonomous systems and will act as the key maritime integration, test and evaluation centre for the combined United Kingdom and French Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) Programme.

“Investing in these facilities enables the safe test, evaluation and training of autonomous platforms, innovative research and development, as well as the regulations for military and civil applications. These facilities will be central to the growth of Thales’s future autonomous capability,” said Victor Chavez, CEO of Thales in the UK.

Thales has also signed a five year agreement with West Wales Airport (WWA) which will continue to deliver the Watchkeeper programme to the British Army and to expand the innovative test, development and training of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Thales has committed £6 million to the West Wales facility over the next two years, securing 40 jobs both locally and across the UK. Over the past ten years, £10 million has already been invested into the airport and local economy while Thales and the Ministry of Defence have tested and developed Europe’s largest UAS programme, Watchkeeper.

“Whether in the air or the sea, the UK is leading the way when it comes to autonomous systems. Thales’ announcement today is yet another example of that, and another way in which this innovation is supporting jobs right across the country,” commented Harriett Baldwin, UK Minister for Defence Procurement.

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Hov Pod has announced that it has developed what it claims is the world’s first unmanned hovercraft. Unlike many conventional unmanned surface vessels (USVs), the Hov Pod hovercraft is capable of operating in all waters. With a wide footprint, the hovercraft are designed specifically for balance, buoyancy and stability.

“Hov Pod unmanned hovercraft and USV systems provide extended surface capabilities for many important commercial and military applications by operating seamlessly off-road and amphibiously over mud, riverbeds, shallow water/tidal regions, flooded land, rapids, shingle beaches, open water, grass, sand, desert, swamps, marshland, wetland, meadow, bogs, bayou, shore, weeds, submerged plants, snow, ice, shallow lakes, dried up salt marshes, rice paddy, sandbanks, roads, indeed any flat surface,” stated Ron Harris, VP of Marketing at Hov Pod. “Hov Pod unmanned hovercraft, include the Infinity truck sized model that can carry up to 9 people or haul a 1500 lb. (680 Kg) payload to a remote destination, flying at speeds up to 45 mph. Hov Pod solutions get first responders close to survivors during a disaster, move from water to land, survey remote areas, swarm an island, search a perimeter 24/7 and engage insurgents at the border without risking the life of soldiers.”

“The Hov Pod hull is practically indestructible, built to handle the most difficult surfaces including ice. The hull of the SPX Series USV is made entirely from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and is molded into an extremely lightweight, buoyant and damage resistant shell. The hull of the Infinity USV is a proprietary blend of Carbon Fiber and Kevlar, the material used in bullet proof vests. The hulls for each the SPX and Infinity carry a 5 year warranty,” added Peter Ward, President of Hov Pod.

The Hov Pod hovercraft can also be integrated with compatible UAV systems to form a versatile unmanned surface to air surveillance solution. The company’s intention is to integrate these autonomous hovercraft and drones with robotic battery swapping technology, long range cameras, thermal imaging cameras, low light cameras, sensors, sonar, radar and 3D mapping payloads to form a complete system that delivers actionable intelligence in real-time from areas that are inaccessible to any other operations.

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According to ASV Global’s (ASV) expert autonomous systems developers, there are three elements that hold the key to making autonomous shipping a reality. This article discusses those key technological requirements.

ASV, a developer of autonomous vessel technology, has already deployed and proven its technology onto more than 80 small vessels (<15m) and believes that this technology is scalable.  As the marine industry adopts maritime autonomous systems (MAS) across different sectors including oil and gas, science and survey, military and security domains, it seems only logical that the next step is to revolutionise the landscape of ship design and operations through autonomous shipping. However, achieving fully autonomous shipping is critically dependent on the progress of the following three areas: sensor fusion, control algorithms and communications.

The first key is sensing. Sensor technology has been around for a long time and can be found in many forms of autonomous vehicle operation, most notably road vehicles where competing developers have prioritised differing technologies. However, whilst a self-driving car and a self-driving boat might ostensibly appear to have the same sensing needs, the challenges and requirements are in fact completely different. ASV has been at the forefront of research into exploring what actually works on the water and where challenges still remain. For example, ASV’s advanced autonomy project has explored the integration of radar, AIS, GPS and 360-degree daylight and thermal cameras with deep-learning vessel classification and sea state detection to provide the vessel and its remote operators with an accurate perspective of its environment and surroundings at all times and in all conditions.

Control is the second key area which brings the development of navigation, optimisation and collision avoidance software. ASV’s algorithms allow the system to react to other marine traffic in accordance with internationally recognised maritime rules and regulations, with the autonomous vessel behaving entirely as would be expected from a standard manned boat. A ship’s ability to monitor its own health, recognise what is around it and make decisions based on that information is vital to the development of autonomous operations.

Whilst developing a “collision avoidance” solution in simulation is relatively straightforward, the engineering practicalities in moving from bench to real world are a significant and often underappreciated as a challenge. Moreover, in the maritime world this is an even larger step than in most other domains. ASV’s real world expertise and on the water track record inthe field largely stem from working with Dstl since 2013, on a fully autonomous navigation system to enable USVs to operate safely at low and high speeds. The primary vessel used for that programme is a converted Ice Marine “Bladerunner” (Dstl’s Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed, or MAST), a 10m powerboat capable of speeds in excess of 60 knots. While the nature of the vessel has allowed ASV to develop autonomous behaviours for a small, fast boat, the next natural step is to scale the system up for use with larger vessels.

Despite the significant advances made in technology development, autonomous vessels are still somewhat reliant upon human input from land or a local remote station. In some small areas, this reliance remains a technical one, however very soon it will primarily be regulatory – only reliance. For a least the short and medium term, regulators are going to want to maintain human supervision and have oversight in the loop for accountability and legal responsibility. As such, connectivity between the remote operator and the vessel is of paramount importance and is the third key to unlock. Communications links over increasingly large distances need to be accurate, scalable and supported by multiple links to create redundancy and minimise risk. Sufficient reliability and bandwidth capacity for sensor monitoring has to be consistently proven in order to be fully adopted into the wider market.

Future development of ASV’s advanced autonomy project will explore how to combine existing communication technologies in an optimum way for autonomous ship control. This will include significantly developing over-the-horizon capabilities in order to conduct more operations akin to a recent survey project undertaken with the C-Enduro USV, which was operated off the coast of Scotland from ASV’s Mission Control Centre in Portchester via a satellite link over 12 continuous days and nights. The future goals are to integrate the advanced autonomy system into bridge systems on shipping vessels, with upcoming work to experiment with a proof of concept bridge aid which is to be tested on a passenger ferry.

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Yamaha Motor has unveiled the company’s new Water Strider unmanned surface vessel (USV), designed for remotely controlled herbicide spraying work in rice paddies.

The Water Strider is an unmanned boat approx. 1.6 m in length, which is capable of spraying herbicide from its hull while traversing rice paddies via the wind power generated from its 34 cc engine-driven propeller. Operation is carried out from a dedicated transmitter, which requires no license.

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The new model features improvements such as:

• Smooth travel and fatigue reduction through the addition of a gyroscope
• Revised chemical discharge volume valve (2-stage to 3-stage) enables use of a wider range of flowable type herbicides
• New graphics including holograms for greater visibility
• Change to a highly-durable resin propeller

Benefits carried over from the previous model include:

• Detachable cassette tank (8 litre capacity) for rapid chemical reloading
• Excellent handling and maneuverability due to the lightweight body and hull shape (capable of operating in a water depth of 5 cm or more)
• Application of shock-absorbing material from boat development technology
• Ever-expanding nationwide service network

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ASV Global and TerraSond have announced that the two companies have completed the first ever seabed cable route survey supported by an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The survey route included various water depths and strong currents, while facing difficult wind and sea conditions in the Bering Sea offshore Alaska. The project was mobilized immediately following a 9,000km nautical charting survey by Terrasond, of which 4,750km (53 percent) was executed by an ASV Global C-Worker 5 autonomous surface vehicle (ASV). The cable route survey required a new payload including a hull mounted multibeam sonar, a sub-bottom profiler, and a towed sidescan sonar with 250m of armored sonar cable. The payload swap on the ASV was integrated, calibrated, and demonstrated in the field in less than 48 hours. A total of 1,220 km of cable route survey lines was then successfully executed by the ASV C-Worker 5 system.

Thomas Chance, CEO of ASV Global, stated: “This is a landmark achievement for ASV technology, and we are pleased to be supporting TerraSond in this effort. The fast re-tasking of the system from one type of mission to another illustrates the flexibility of the C-Worker ASV, and its consistent performance in difficult sea conditions further underscores the value of this highly efficient approach to offshore operations.”

Throughout the operation the C-Worker 5 was remotely monitored using ASV Global’s ASView control system from a station on TerraSond’s mother ship. ASView used exported .dxf survey lines from the TerraSond survey planning system to autonomously execute an accurate survey with minimal human intervention.

ASV Global has supported TerraSond for three consecutive years refining the use of autonomous systems in hydrographic survey applications. This year’s deployments follow on from a 2016 charting survey completed in the Bering Sea, off Alaska where ASV Global and TerraSond marked an industry first by completing a 9,578km hydrographic survey, 4,213km of which were completed unmanned. Combined, these operations result in over 10,000km in unmanned survey lines.

Tom Newman, President of TerraSond expressed his satisfaction: “We continue to be impressed after several projects with ASV’s C-Worker 5 in a variety of missions. Together with ASV we have performed the first use in charting, first use in the arctic, first use for a cable route survey and first to accumulate over 10,000km in use. ASV’s team has risen to each challenge and the system has proved to be a reliable and cost effective force multiplier, often doubling our production, operating in areas unsafe for a larger vessel and allowing multitasking on projects.”

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iXblue, a developer of solutions for the Geosciences, Offshore Energies and Defense markets, has announced the launch of DriX, the company’s new multi-purpose Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (AUSV).

This new asset, developed through a proper vertical integration and a third-party-friendly approach, offers a comprehensive solution for advanced sea operations. Born from an in-house survey need, DriX has been especially designed around its unmanned nature. Made out of composite material and with a hull shape optimized for both coastal and offshore missions, DriX operates with high stability, and can operate independently in the most hostile weathers and environments, with the least number of hoisting manoeuvres possible, exponentially saving vessel time.

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“Our aim was to create an AUSV that was truly multi-role and which would expand the working domains of a traditional research vessel. In order to do that, we needed a vehicle that was light, resilient and with high-endurance,” said Guillaume Eudeline, Business Development Manager for the Shipyard Division at iXblue. “We also wanted to take full advantage of its unmanned nature, which meant that it was designed by our shipyard, without any references to a human carrier hull shape. This is how we created a truly independent, safe, multi-role AUSV that saves manpower. DriX is really bringing an added value to the market.”

Consisting of a main body, a mast and a gondola bolted onto a drop keel, DriX is 7.7 meters long and 0.7 meters wide, with a draft of 2.0 meters. The possible change of the gondola and its payloads, with its third-party-friendly architecture, makes it especially suitable for multiple applications such as exploration, pre-site installation, touchdown monitoring, undersea inspection, Metocean, decommissioning, as well as environmental, geophysical, and hydrographic surveys. Should a change of payload occur, the electronic cabinets, housed in the main body, are easily accessible and removable, allowing for a swift and easy switch.

Data-acquisition is high quality, even at high-speed, thanks to a number of design improvements, such as a wave piercer shape that keeps the slamming effect to a minimum, even in rough seas. The payload, embedded in the gondola, is in an optimum data gathering environment, 2.0 meters under the surface, in noise-reduced and bubble-free surroundings. The data gathered can be transmitted through Wifi or radio waves. It can also, if necessary, be retrieved manually through an on-board retrieval plug.

Powered by a single propeller that enables a top speed of 15 knots, DriX offers up to 7 days of endurance. Multiple navigation options are also available such as autopilot, remote supervisor action, a “follow-me” function and a “hovering” mode, all COLREG compliant.

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ASV Global has announced that it has developed a prototype of its newest unmanned surface vessel (USV), the C-Worker 12P. The C-Worker 12P prototype is one of ASV Global’s largest unmanned vessels fitted to date, measuring just over 12 meters. The vessel is a converted manned craft which uses ASV’s proven ASView control system for unmanned operations. The prototype vessel will be used as a testbed as ASV looks to expand the established C-Worker class of autonomous vessels and continue to develop over-the-horizon (OTH) capability.

The optionally manned vessel will feature two moon pools for maximum sensor deployment and extended endurance missions. The vehicle can be used to complete tasks such as subsea positioning, surveying, and environmental monitoring without the need of a ship on station or sea-bed anchoring. The C-Worker 12P can integrate a variety of payloads including multi-beam, USBL, CTD and ADCP.

Watch a video on the C-Worker 12P below:

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ASV Global has announced the latest addition to its C-Cat family of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), the C-Cat 3. The first production C-Cat 3 vessel has been delivered to the University of Southampton.

The 3m autonomous catamaran will be used by the university for scientific research and development of autonomous behaviours. The investment was funded by an EPSRC RAS Capital Award.

Dr Jon Downes from the University of Southampton’s Maritime Robotics Laboratory said, “We are very excited to have our own autonomous vessel which will enable us to undertake autonomy research and development. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with ASV – they worked closely with us to ensure the vessel fitted our requirements and have delivered a robust and reliable platform ideal for autonomy research and experimentation with payloads”.

Vince Dobbin, Sales and Marketing Director said, “We are delighted to be working with the University of Southampton who are not only local to us but share our passion for developing autonomous systems.”

He added, “The C-Cat 3 is a fantastic addition to our fleet, unlike any other vessel on the market it is small enough to easily transport and mobilise but large enough to house a range of high accuracy payloads such as a multibeam sonar.”

The C-Cat 3 has been developed to complement the existing ocean going ASV Global vehicles for survey and support tasks where a smaller vehicle is better suited to missions. The design incorporates a large payload bay to enable payload flexibility.

The vessel has a modular, lightweight design for ease of transport and mobilisation. Its shallow draft and payload capacity make it an ideal vessel for shallow survey and marine science applications.

The C-Cat 3 includes the core functionality proven in all ASV Global vessels and systems. The ASView control system gives the operator the flexibility to execute basic remote control right up to fully autonomous operations.

Watch a video introducing the C-Cat 3 below:

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Sea Machines Robotics has announced a collaboration with Tuco Marine of Denmark to offer remote and autonomous control products as factory options in Tuco’s line of ProZero workboats. The Tuco Marine Group manufactures a range of modern efficient workboats at its Faaborg, Denmark location and specializes in the production of carbon fiber hulls.

Tuco Marine and Sea Machines have already successfully demonstrated the remote command capability of the Sea Machines 300 technology at Danish Maritime Authority’s “Zooming into Marine Autonomy Conference” where they gave live remote command of the water craft to Danish Minister of Industry Brian Mikkelsen.

Tuco CEO Jonas Pederson said: “Sea Machines provides technology that enables new methods of optimized operation of our workboats. We see immediate market opportunities for remote & autonomous operation in offshore surveying, security, dredging and more. In the spirit of innovation on which we founded TUCO, our collaboration with a cutting-edge technology leader like Sea Machines positions our company for the future state of the industry.”

“A production boat builder offering Sea Machines products is a major step in making remote command and autonomous vessel technology available to commercial operators,” said Sea Machines’ CEO, Michael Johnson. “We are taking the mystery out of marine autonomy by putting the technology forward as a tangible product that is ready to use, and we are pleased to partner with a visionary company like TUCO in our first OEM partnership”.

The Sea Machines 300 is an industrial-grade autonomous command & dynamic vessel management system that readily interfaces with primary and auxiliary vessel systems. The system uses common modern navigation instruments for positioning and perception, including DGPS, AIS, Radar, and camera-based vision. All autonomy system components are mounted in a standardized stainless steel, IP67 electrical enclosure. Rack-mounted configurations are also available.

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The system is supplied with a graphical user interface, branded TALOS, which enables real time local and remote vessel telemetry and data feed as well as navigation route planning, and also comes with a remote control industrial joystick. In autonomy mode, the user can plan and execute tasks such as waypoint tracking, search or survey grids, or collaborative tracking of another vessel. The Sea Machines 300 includes a first generation of obstacle and collision avoidance algorithms which abides by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) COLREGs and Rules of the Road for vessel interactions.

The Sea Machines 300 provides a new realm of vessel operations, like allowing on-board crew to step away from the aspect of manual vessel control and give focus to other complex operations such as back-deck equipment & payload tasks. The system also unlocks the ability to operate a vessel in minimally-manned or unmanned configurations. An operator using Sea Machines technology can control a boat from a remote location with the visibility of vessel-borne video and radar feed and gives the ability to remotely control onboard payloads such as survey sonars, winches, cranes, and davits. The Sea Machines 300 provides an immediate upgrade to traditional workboat tasks such as bathymetric surveying, seismic support, spill operations, dredging, aquaculture, surveillance, area marking, and escort.

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ASV Global has announced that it has converted a 26ft hydrographic survey launch to enable it to operate autonomously using the company’s ASView control system, while maintaining its ability to operate in a conventional manned mode. The launch, which is part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) fleet dedicated to the survey operations of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), will be used as a test platform for unmanned survey work.

This delivery to the CHS marks ASV Global’s 10th unmanned conversion of a customer vessel using the ASView system, which has been developed and optimised specifically for autonomous and remote control of unmanned vessels and the conversion of manned vessels for unmanned use.

ASView enables the launch to follow planned missions, giving it the capability to operate as a standalone survey launch controlled from the shore or as a force multiplier controlled from another vessel.

ASView seamlessly interfaces with the launch’s existing engine, steering and navigation systems to enable autonomous operation. The launch is connected to a remote station via a suite of IP radios enabling real-time monitoring of the survey acquisition data and vessel parameters.

The launch is equipped with an advanced collision avoidance system using radar and AIS to ensure its safe operation. Situational awareness is provided by five onboard cameras with audio feedback. ASView monitors the launch’s onboard sensors including depth, engine and battery health status, alerting the remote station of any potential hazards.

ASV Global Sales & Marketing Director Vince Dobbin said: “We’re very excited to be working with the CHS as it looks to integrate autonomous technology into its operations. We support their passion for using innovative ways of working to improve safety and maximise efficiencies at sea.”

ASV Global’s team of autonomous systems engineers worked closely with the CHS team, completing the installation and acceptance tests onsite in Canada over the course of five weeks. Following on-water testing, ASV Global delivered its MCA recognised Maritime Autonomous System Operator training course to delegates from CHS and CCG.

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