Interview: David Millar, Fugro
, so that all are contributing crowd sourced bathymetry data to Seabed 2030 as they transit between projects. The same service can be modified and offered to cruise lines and maritime shipping companies, who obviously operate vessels that are already equipped with satellite communications and navigation systems.Fugro survey vessel Kobi Ruegg (Photo: Fugro)With the demand for geophysical data perhaps blunted by the offshore energy downturn, discuss where, today, you see opportunities for your products and services.There is no doubt that the offshore energy downturn has been hard on Fugro and other
Mapping the Future
system architecture of autonomy for planning, analysis and execution is similar for AUVs and USVs but there are differences in sensors and functions because of the environment. Lack of GPS and radio communication are fundamental constraints to AUVs that are solved by acoustics and aided inertial navigation systems.USVs need advanced scene analysis and route planning to navigate safely in areas with maritime activity. There are significant thresholds to sufficient functionality and robustness of the individual systems. The most critical phases of the combined USV-AUV operation are launch and recovery
Autonomous Vehicle Maps the Arctic Seafloor
software operated aboard the vessel is a combination of open-source robotic operating systems and software developed by engineers Roland Arsenault and Val Schmidt at the center to tailor BEN’s behaviors for hydrographic seafloor survey. BEN is outfitted with state-of-the-art sonar and navigation systems to meet the seafloor survey requirements for nautical charting and safety of navigation. The navigation system provides exact positioning and attitude while BEN plows the ocean’s surface, while the sonar paints a swath of measurements below and to the sides of the vessel.On Saturday,
ION, Greensea Ink Joint Marketing Agreement
operators under a new joint marketing agreement.The partnership will aim to accelerate the adoption of ION’s technologies into larger, less cyclic adjacent markets offshore and in the military while providing Greensea with options to integrate ION sensor technology into a growing number of navigation systems. Greensea and ION have already collaborated to integrate ION’s optical magnetic heading sensor into Greensea’s INSpect navigation system to dramatically improve subsea vehicle navigation accuracy in remote GPS-deprived environments.“I am really pleased with how quickly we
Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Semifinalists Announced
rapid surface to deep ocean exploration. Texas A&M University Ocean Engineering (College Station, TX, United States) – Led by Dylan Blakeslee and working in partnership with successful alumni of Texas A&M; the University team is using drone ships and AUVs equipped with innovative navigation systems, renewable power generation and chemical sensing technologies to explore remote ocean habitats. Virginia DEEP-X -- Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University (Virginia, United States) – Led by Dan Stilwell, the team is developing small and low-cost underwater vehicles that operate
SBG Systems Upgrades Its Ekinox Series
SBG Systems said it will soon present its new generation of advanced and compact inertial navigation systems, the Ekinox 2 Series. The Ekinox Series is a line of tactical grade MEMS-based inertial navigation systems first released in 2013. The newest generation – set for launch at the U.S. Hydro Show, in Galveston, Texas – is now twice more accurate in attitude due to a complete redesign of the in-house Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) integrating cutting-edge gyroscopes and accelerometers. Ekinox 2 Series is fully compliant with IHO standards. It provides 0.02°
VARD Selects Synapsis INS For an Advanced Research Vessel
. Raytheon Anschütz will also deliver S-band- and X-band network-based radar sensors, the top-of-the-range NP 5000 autopilot, and a fully redundant inertial navigation system. Synapsis INS is type-approved according to IMO’s new Performance Standards for Integrated Navigation Systems and meets the highest performance requirements for redundancy, safety and ease of operation. The INS will be delivered in compliance with the demanding notation DNV GL NAUT-AW. The Synapsis INS was sold to VARD by Raytheon Anschütz’s long-standing, Norway-based partner,
Greensea: Redefining the Connection between Man and Machine
system; we are not building a mission planning system. We’re building a ‘get me where I want to go’ system.” Kinnaman said the engineering challenge is the relationship – how the operator is to use the tools that are behind the scenes – the inertial navigation systems, the autopilots, the mission planning systems and the sonar interfaces. The interface that delivers the operator’s requirements is really the hard part, and that’s the relationship. For the DPD Greensea has a number of deliverables according to Kinnaman. “STIDD builds
SBG Systems Debuts New Post-processing Software
at the Ocean Business show in Southampton, U.K. After the survey, this full-feature software gives access to offline RTK corrections, and process inertial and GNSS raw data to further enhance accuracy and secure the survey. For more than 10 years, SBG Systems has been designing inertial navigation systems from the internal Inertial Measurement Unit to the filtering with GNSS data. Expert in real-time data fusion, the company takes another step in the surveying industry by unveiling Qinertia, a fully in-house Post-Processing Kinematic (PPK) software. Whether the survey is made from a car, a UAV
Hull Cleaning Robot Deployed in Rotterdam
operational flexibility for the shipping company.” The underwater visibility was extremely poor during the operation. However, due to the unique positioning system and imaging systems, it was still possible to perform an accurate cleaning of the hull. Fleet Cleaner uses innovative navigation systems in order to ensure a high quality hull cleaning, even in such conditions. With the cleaning of the Vlieborg, and recently also the hull cleaning of the Marcor bulk vessel in Rotterdam, Fleet Cleaner has introduced itself in Dutch ports as the new standard for in water cleaning
Klein Hires Dentzman as Sales Manager
with sonar manufacturers. He has more than 20 years of surveying experience and his background includes work in numerous offshore research diving, acoustic subsea mapping and maritime security programs. Throughout his career, Dentzman has developed markets for a variety of underwater mapping and navigation systems. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the SS American Memorial and he is affiliated and actively involved with the Navy Submarine League, U.S. Submarine Veterans, U.S. Hydrographic Society, Navy League, U.S. Naval Institute, American Association of Port Authorities and the
Hydrographic Survey Vessel Converted for Autonomous Ops
system. 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 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 a collision avoidance system using radar and AIS to ensure its safe operation
Oceanology International '18: Conference Schedule Finalized
the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, will confront the myriad technological and practical issues surrounding the development, installation and maintenance of the offshore renewable infrastructure. Meanwhile, Navigation & Positioning, chaired by Xavier Montazel, Vice President, Director of Navigation Systems Business Unit at iXblue, and Walter Jardine, Upstream Survey & Positioning Authority, BP, will report upon the newest findings in this realm. Rear Admiral Shepard Smith, Director, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA observes: “I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak alongside such
PicSea: A New Concept for Ocean Autonomy
installed in a location or take advantage of ocean currents and solar recharging to operate perpetually. “I’ve spent the last year making sure that the technology that was needed to make this happen is possible. I’ve developed the propulsion, communications, and navigation systems and we are working with customers to understand the kind of data that they want. We’ve had a great response from all different sectors, and we expect to have something in the water by June 2018,” explains Durrant. The Time for Ocean Start-Ups The recent surge in underwater robotics
Meet the Future of Visualization and Mapping Sonars
subsea projects and operations across the globe including in oil and gas applications, breakwater construction, asset placements and landings, port and harbor security, defense, mining and diving applications Our real-time 3D and geophysical product ranges are complemented by GNSS aided inertial navigation systems. The F180 series has a proven track record in the marine survey industry for accuracy and reliability and is a preferred asset found on survey vessels across the world. Our existing third generation of real-time 3D sonar products includes the standard Echoscope, the Echoscope and Echoscope
US Navy Submarines Surface in the Arctic Circle
ocean environments on earth," said Rear Admiral James Pitts, commander, Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC). ICEX provides the U.S. Submarine Force and partners from the Royal Navy an opportunity to test combat and weapons systems, sonar systems, communications and navigation systems in a challenging operational environment. The unique acoustic undersea environment is further compounded by the presence of a contoured, reflective ice canopy when submerged. According to Pitts, operating in the Arctic ice alters methods and practices by which submarines operate, communicat
University of Limerick Buys ROV for Renewables Research
Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD.The Comanche ROV was selected due to its high thrust-to-drag ratio enabling it to operate in strong currents, typical conditions for the offshore renewables industry. The ROV is equipped to a high specification with precision positioning and navigation systems, camera and lighting systems and sonars. The systems will be used as a test bed for research to develop capabilities for inspection, maintenance and repair work on Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) infrastructure in the challenging strong wave and current conditions at MRE test-sites and offshore
