Subsea Mining: The Next Big Thing for UUVs
; HD cameras; conductivity sensors; ocean-floor magnetometers and laser sensors. Importantly, those AUV payloads largely require the REEs subsea mining seeks.Deep sea mining techniques are being polished in the wake of major offshore acreage awards. Deep sea miner, Ocean Minerals, says REEs are “17 chemically similar metals consisting of the 15 elements known as the lanthanides plus yttrium and scandium” and they’re of value due to their “unique magnetic, chemical and luminescent properties” and essential to makers of hybrid vehicles, mobile telephones, computers, etc. That&rsquo
A SmallSat AUV Network
SmallSats, to control AUVs. NTNU post-docs, Ph.Ds and masters students are nearing their SmallSat launch day, after which North Sea AUVs will have taken a step toward being able to relay data to scientists onshore for long periods. Both SmallSats and AUVs will have hyperspectral cameras able to detect chemicals, metals, plankton or do survey work.The California-based Prof. Rajan is a senior scientist known for planning, executing and creating autonomous systems and robotics at NASA’s Ames Research Center. Prof. De Sousa leads an international network of AUV-keen scientists akin to NTNU’s.
Toxic Mud from Dam Collapse Affects Coral
some of that invisible material had arrived. The water in Abrolhos remains transparent, but it has finer, more soluble materials that get there and, on arrival, have been incorporated by organisms."For years, Evangelista has been researching the corals of the Abrolhos National Park in Bahia. The chemical information contained in the skeleton of the existing species, helps to recount the history of the local marine ecosystem, such as water temperature over time."Corals are organisms that, as they grow, form a skeleton, which is being stacked. The fabric that forms the coral is millimetric, all
The “Disruption” in AUV Trends
working on it the better,” says Fossen, adding that the costs of AUVs are prohibitive, so researchers build their own payloads. AMOS researchers have just developed their own, “low-cost” spectral camera: “What’s hot about this research is that hyperspectral cameras (using chemical calculations) can measure all the colors of our (electromagnetic) spectrum, so it sees what you can’t see with your eyes. It can see the kind of metal a plate of metal is or it can look at a coral and see color that you can’t see with your eyes.”Martin Ludvigsen, an NTNU professor
Liberty Wins North Sea Pipe Contract
; and 84” mills at Hartlepool have full order books as the operation moves into Spring 2019.Order books for both mills were also bolstered in recent months by major contracts totaling more than 20,000 metric tons of pipe from the U.S., one for the energy sector and another for the construction of chemical giant Lyondell Basell’s new showpiece plant in Texas.The comeback of the mills, which suffered badly during the downturn in the steel industry over recent years, has seen job numbers grow from 120 up to 200 over the past few months.This latest Subsea7 order will provide pipe for the Shell
New Tech Simulates Methane Hydrate Recovery
of solids, liquids and gases) inside lifting pipes, and has conducted experiments on flows containing methane hydrate. Adding to this knowledge and expertise, since April 2016, MES-HD has been engaged in joint research efforts in association with Matsukuma Lab at the Fukuoka University Department of Chemical Engineering, which possesses many years of knowledge and expertise in the field of developing simulations for the gas lifting method.MES-HD has been participating in studies and research for the development of technologies for the recovery of shallow methane hydrate being conducted by the Ministry
OSIL Unveils Microplastics Sampler
Oceanic microplastic pollution is a growing concern across the globe as new and existing marine litter continues to degrade and fragment through physical and chemical processes.Global environmental monitoring experts Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) has developed a new Microplastics Sampler for the collection of water samples for the analysis of plastic particles smaller than 5 mm including fragments, films, pellets/nurdles, granules/beads, filaments and foams.The unique device is a large volume water sampler that allows researchers to collect and characterize suspended and sinking particles
LRAUV: Arctic Oil-Spill-Mapping Robot Put to the Test
test of its LRAUV prototype in Monterey Bay, California, with the goal to characterize an oil spill and transmit data back to shore.“The researchers showed us how LRAUV works; this was the first test with the oil sensors and data transmission in action,” said Trego.LRAUV was equipped with chemical sensors and simulated an oil spill from a vessel by “leaking” a non-toxic, neon green sea dye into the water. The dye, just like oil, can float in the top 13 feet of the water column, but biodegrades in sunlight in a matter of hours.“This specific water test was intended to check
Ocean Power Technologies Pact with NEC Energy Solutions
will provide sea floor energy storage for offshore operations.OPT's subsea battery solutions will enable the powering of subsea equipment, sensors, and communications, and the recharge of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and electric remotely operated vehicles (eROV). They can power sensors, chemical injection systems, and even electric trees and control systems, which regulate the flow of oil, chemicals, and water and gas injection and disposal.According to data from Fior Research, the global subsea battery sales market is projected to grow to over $668 million over the next five years as industries
MATE At-Sea Internship Opportunity
, South Africa; and Montevideo, Uruguay (cruise plans are still in development.)Internship projects will vary from one cruise to another and correspond to the cruise objectives set by the lead scientists for each cruise. Previous interns have worked on cruises to support science projects ranging from chemical oceanography, marine biology, GIS/bathymetric surveys (seafloor mapping), geological studies, work with ROVs and much more! The position will last approximately six months and the intern will receive a stipend of $500 per week, plus reimbursement for travel expenses and housing - mostly aboard one
Construction Starts on OSU's Research Ship
utilizing Taani will focus on the U.S. West Coast. Meanwhile, NSF has contracted with OSU to build a second similar research vessel, which will be operated by a consortium led by the University of Rhode Island.“This new class of modern vessels will support future research focused on the physical, chemical, biological and geologic processes in coastal waters,” said Roberta Marinelli, dean of Oregon State’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. “This research is critical to informing strategies for coastal resilience, food security, and hazard mitigation not only in the
Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Finalists to Compete off Greece
Administration (NOAA) $1 million bonus prize will take place in early 2019, once the grand prize testing has been completed. Competing bonus prize finalist teams will need to demonstrate that their technology can “sniff out” a specified object in the ocean by tracing a biological or chemical signal to its source
Hunting Hydrocarbons
Subsea gliders are taking to the oceans to hunt for an ever wider array of anthropomorphic and chemical signatures to an ever greater accuracy.Ocean glider systems are maturing. Since emerging in the 2000s, they’ve opened up new possibilities for ocean observation and monitoring. But, these possibilities are continuing to expand, including to gas seep surveys, leak detection, mammal monitoring and oil spill monitoring, for the offshore oil and gas industry.The primary attraction of ocean gliders is their ability to stay at sea for months, monitoring wide areas in remote locations down to significa
Marine Technology Reporter - October 2018
The October 2018 edition of Marine Technology Reporter is now available in print and online.This issue includes features on:The hunt for hydrocarbons: Subsea gliders are taking to the oceans to hunt for an ever wider array of anthropomorphic and chemical signatures to an ever greater accuracy.A “National Hero”: Shanghai Ocean University’s Professor Cui Weicheng is breaking new ground in the subsea sector, both in science and business.Ocean Observation: Two decades of moored ADCPs off southern Africa, as the Greater Agulhas Current is suspected to influence the global
Mapping the Future
, Ph.D, Senior Director, Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZEWhat do you hope to achieve through the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE?The Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE aims to achieve three key goals: to accelerate technology in marine underwater robotics, especially mapping, imaging, and the autonomous detection of chemical or biological signals; to catalyze new markets by removing manned vessels and make it cheaper to access the deep sea; and finally, to inspire the public – these robots are discovering a new underwater planet with strange lifeforms and unfamiliar terrains. These exponential technologies can
NSF Awards Contract to Continue Ocean Observatories Initiative
, with direction from the NSF and guidance from the OOI Facilities Board, will include the University of Washington (UW), Oregon State University (OSU), and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.The OOI is an advanced system of integrated, scientific platforms and sensors that measure physical, chemical, geological, and biological properties and processes from the seafloor to the sea surface in key coastal and open-ocean sites of the Atlantic and Pacific. The facility was designed to address critical questions about the Earth-ocean system, including climate change, ecosystem variability, ocean
ISE Sells 6000m-rated AUV to China
6,000 m depth.The modular design of the ISE Explorer enables it to carry multiple payloads in its spacious, swappable, and customizable payload section including Multibeam Echosounders, Sidescan Sonars, Sub-bottom Profilers, Synthetic Aperture Sonars, High Definition Cameras and Laser Systems, CTDs and chemical sensors, or any combination of AUV payloads. Additional battery sections can be added to extend the endurance from 24 hours up to 72 hours.The ISE Explorer AUV has a proven track record of offshore operational success with customers from Asia, Europe, Australia, the U.S. and Canada.The vehicle&rsquo
