One-on-One with Duane Fotheringham, President, Unmanned Systems, HII
over an enviable family of UUV’s to meet the mission. “Our main product lines have always been the REMUS 100, REMUS 600 and REMUS 6000. However, the technology that goes into these systems is scalable,” said Fotheringham. “The REMUS Technology Platform includes advanced core electronics, open architecture, autonomy and modularity that can be scaled to everything from small-class to extra large-class UUVs. While physical parameters are designed to the specific requirements of a vehicle, the key to this technology is independent of hull diameter, size or depth rating.’The
COVE Internship Project Begins Despite COVID-19 Pandemic
.The interns are completing, or have completed, their studies at Acadia University, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). Their backgrounds range from a Senior Ship’s Officer with a diploma in business administration, electronics technician, environmental engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, interdisciplinary design, and electronic commerce.IBM and Accenture have donated their time and resources in a week-long orientation course for the interns prior to the project start date allowing the interns to hit
Case Study: Helping Ocean Researchers Obtain Hi-Resolution Measurements at a Lower Cost
a function of time at whatever position they are located,” Pinkel explains. “The Wirewalker can turn these one-dimensional signals into two-dimensional depth-time images, enabling much more ocean information to be collected and insight to be gained from experiments.”With no need for electronics, motors or computers to control the Wirewalker’s movement, there are fewer moving parts to break down. On-board batteries are only used to power the attached instruments.Crucially, the Wirewalker does not require a suite of specially designed instruments to capture data. For the most part
Saab Seaeye's Falcon Flies High
complex structures, in a concept that has remained unbeaten for over 20 years.A key breakthrough concept was its distributed intelligent control which uniquely gave each device on the Falcon its own individually controlled microprocessor. This eliminated interface cards, jettisoning the conventional electronics pod and making the vehicle smaller and lighter.Intelligent distributed control meant that, for the first time, tools and sensors could be easily added or changed, and custom options readily integrated, making it an ideal platform for numerous intricate and demanding applications.More interchangeable
SubSeaSail G6 Platform Passes the Test
sailing vessel (USSV) with key patents including a sailing vessel with the hull below the waterline, greatly reducing drag as well as the visual signature. A second patent is for the Passive Wingsail Control Mechanism, which sets the wingsail at the optimum angle without any lines, pulleys, or electronics, significantly reducing complexity and cost. A servo to control the rudder is the only electro-mechanical component needed to sail autonomously, resulting in a “hotel load” to run the entire platform of less than one Watt.At the ANTX 2019 demonstrations, SubSeaSail demonstrated the
Ransomware: The IT Danger on the Horizon
for Cyber Security Onboard Ships, now the de-facto cybersecurity standard for vessel operators, and he continues to advise on the development of these guidelines. He also serves on the Board of Directors for CIRM (Comité International Radio-Maritime) -- the international association for marine electronics companies -- and Chair of the CIRM Cyber Risk Working Group, which fosters relations between all organizations concerned with electronic aids to marine navigation, communications and information systems. Outside of work, Saunders serves as an Officer in the Royal Naval Reserve where he leads teams
Copenhagen Subsea Debuts the Gorilla ROV
. Even weak currents can cause some ROVs to tilt and the operator to lose control of the vehicle, potentially leading even to the abandonment of the mission and recovery of the ROV.The Gorilla ROV is based on Copenhagen Subsea’s Rim-driven thruster, technology which, combined with industrial electronics from Japan’s OMRON, gives a high level of reliability.Image: Copenhagen SubseaBy contrast, the Gorilla’s DP system makes it easy to operate the vehicle even in low visibility and strong currents. This is based on an advanced sensor system, which delivers input to the DP system to constantly
Good Undersea Vehicles Come in Small Packages
, yet highly effective, undersea vehicles. The past decade has seen new remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) produced that are easily carried and deployed by one person. Capitalizing on developments in circuitry, sensors, and batteries inspired by the consumer electronics sector, these small vehicles punch above their weight class in practical applications.There are many examples of both ROV and AUV one could consider, but a selection of four are worth reviewing as exemplars of the category. They also offer contrasting perspectives on some key technical and operational
Marine Autonomy Above & Below the Water
project was a feasibility study, part funded by Innovate UK. This saw a Saab Seaeye inspection class Falcon ROV deployed from a C-Worker 7 ASV with a 2.5 x 1m moonpool. The ROV was kept in a hanger with a winch to pay out up to 50m of tether and a powered sheath wheel to maintain tension. All the electronics were in an electronic enclosure and kept separate from main control system. ROV control was treated it similar to other payloads, with a remote desk top connection via radio link, providing robust control of the ROV. The ROV was tracked using an Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) system.This set-up was
Trieste: 60th Anniversary of Deepest Dive
;All credit is due to ONR—they were the ones that rolled the dice buying the Trieste from the Swiss.”The U.S. Navy’s Trieste Team for Project Nekton at the Island of Guam November 1959. There were just 20 of us, a mix of Navy uniformed and civilian personnel from the U.S. Navy Electronics Laboratory, San Diego CA. Images courtesy: Don WalshA new chapter of naval research and discoveryTrieste’s descent to the Challenger Deep was a remarkable achievement for the Navy, ONR and oceanography as a scientific discipline. Bought by ONR in 1958, Trieste was designed to go deeper
