Sea Technology

DEC 2012

The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community

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USVs Find Use in Shallow-, Deepwater Applications Vehicles Operate Autonomously in Surveys, Mine Countermeasures By Don Darling D evelopments in unmanned systems technology, data telemetry systems, remote sensing and automation have provided a new set of tools for inland and offshore tasks, including survey, intervention, inspection and monitoring. Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) can be applied to shallow- and deepwater operations. SeaRobotics (Stuart, Florida) has developed a family of reconfgurable USVs allowing adaptation to various operational scenarios and payloads. Along with other hull forms, catamaran-type USVs offer a high degree of stability, a substantial payload capacity, moon pool-like equipment deployment capability and a large open-deck area to accommodate survey equipment. These USVs utilize DC battery systems, AC/DC generator sets, renewable power sources or a combination of several energy sources. Communication with the USV is achieved by means of line of sight using a wireless telemetry system or high-bandwidth satellite networks that allow for extend- ed endurance, long-range remote operation and operations from nearshore to far offshore. When combined with other robotic devices and sensor payloads, USVs can operate 24/7 and minimize costs of inland, coastal and offshore tasks through the reduction of day rates and involvement of fewer personnel, as compared to vessel work. USVs utilize standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sensor suites that can be easily integrated. With the USV's large deck areas, power availability and communication bandwidth, payload integration can be as simple as plugging into the appropriate "user ports" and securing the payload. Some of the sensors integrated include forward-looking and down-looking multibeam sonars, scanning sonars, singlebeam echosounders, magnetometers, sub-bottom proflers, side scan sonars and pipeline pulse induction survey systems, as well as sampling systems and sensors used to detect obstructions and hazards to navigation. Many COTS sensor The USV-2600 deployed in the Arctic. www.sea-technology.com DECEMBER 2012 / st 23

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