GTI to Supply Low Frequency Sources to Scripps
GeoSpectrum Technologies (GTI) announces it will supply the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (University of California San Diego) with two “C-BASS” low frequency sources.This new technology will allow researchers to conduct low frequency acoustic experiments more efficiently and less expensively than previously possible, GTI said. A successful field trial at Seneca Lake last December caught the attention of Scripps, resulting in the purchase.The fully coherent C-BASS are tuned to operate at 34 Hz and are capable of continuous operation. The energy efficient sources are physically
Ashtead Delivers Installation Monitoring Services to Subsea 7
in Aberdeen, U.K. The calibration procedures improved the resolution and noise reduction of the sensors utilized.Once installed on the structure, the system ran autonomously, and was controlled remotely via radio frequency communications, an acoustic data link and a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) electrical hot stab, removing the need for direct ROV or diver intervention. Ashtead utilized a range of measurement sensors and positioning tools to enhance the accuracy of the data collected, ensuring maximum performance of the system.This approach to subsea system installation was developed
Marine Survey Work Starts for Greenlink Interconnector
The subsea field work for the Greenlink interconnector, one of Europe’s most important infrastructure projects, gets under way with the launch of the first of MMT’s survey vessels, MV Franklin.The offshore and nearshore surveying along the proposed route of the electricity link between the UK and Ireland is expected to take approximately 40 days, depending on weather conditions. MMT were awarded the contract for the Greenlink Marine Survey (GMS) by Greenlink Interconnector Ltd in August.Further survey work along the 170km marine route will be undertaken by vessels MV Seabeam, MV Edda Fonn
Mapping the Future
operations. Can you explain why this was chosen as a focus?In developing this prize, one of the market failures that was identified was the expense of mapping the sea floor because of the need for manned ships at sea. By focusing on autonomous operations, we incentivize the development of a range of new vehicles and approaches that can be deployed from the shore and map an area without any humans at sea.The finalists were announced in March; what were the key criteria used to select the teams that would proceed?The team solutions were assessed on their performance against 11 criteria: autonomy, collision
Kraken, ThayerMahan Demonstrate SeaScout for US Navy
dollars being spent on drone development. In its fiscal year 2019 budget, the U.S. Department of Defense requested US$9.6 billion for unmanned technology and related systems — a 28 percent increase from the previous year, according to a report released June 25 by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.“Unmanned systems and robotics are key technology areas that enable the United States to counter the range of evolving threats posed on the modern battlefield,” AUVSI president and CEO Brian Wynne said. The Navy has led all service branches in dollars put toward
UFRJ Nautilus: A Brazilian AUV Project
The UFRJ Nautilus AUV is an academic project designed to develop autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology in Brazil and participate in the annual Robosub competition. According to project founder, Lucas Armand, a Naval and Ocean Engineering graduate from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the emergence of Nautilus has a lot to do with personal history: “I was having a difficult time in college, because I no longer identified myself with the course. The UFRJ Naval Engineering degree tends to be quite traditional – sometimes even old-fashioned – and I’ve
L3 Technologies Acquires ASV Global
to lead in this strategic growth area and strengthen L3’s position as a leading supplier of maritime solutions,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, L3’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. “The addition of L3 ASV enables us to deliver both unmanned surface and undersea vehicle technologies to an expanded international customer base and take a prime contractor position on major unmanned systems.”Based in Louisiana and the U.K., L3 ASV delivers surface vessels in a range of sizes, currently from 10 to 42 feet, with proprietary software and control systems and proven
Furze Promoted at Teledyne Marine Vehicles
Teledyne Marine – Vehicles promoted Pete Furze to Director, Navy Program Development – Vehicles. Furze has most recently been Teledyne Marine’s Product Line Manager for APEX profiling floats where his leadership has grown Teledyne’s market presence and customer satisfaction.Furze is a retired U.S. Navy captain with 30years in the Navy meteorology and oceanography community. He served afloat and ashore, including command of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and Commander, Undersea Surveillance. Since transition in 2009, Furze has worked with small and large businesses, including
Olis Robotics Acquires Machine Learning Startup
Olis Robotics, developer of next-generation remote robotics software, announced it has acquired Seattle-based machine learning startup White Marsh Forests (WMF).Olis, formerly BluHaptics, has created a next-generation software platform built from the ground up that expands the capabilities of pilot-controlled service robots in the energy and space sectors and other harsh operating environments. The firm's technology enables vast improvements in robotic dexterity, precision, efficiency and overall mission success.The addition of machine learning capabilities from WMF allows robots to recognize and
NSF Awards Contract to Continue Ocean Observatories Initiative
A state-of-the-art marine facility delivering data and new insight to the ocean science community, policy-makers and the public worldwide has received additional support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).The NSF awarded a coalition of academic and oceanographic research organizations a five-year, $220 million contract to operate and maintain the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). The coalition, led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), with direction from the NSF and guidance from the OOI Facilities Board, will include the University of Washington (UW), Oregon State University
ISE Sells 6000m-rated AUV to China
Canadian underwater systems and robotics manufacturer International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE) announced it has sold its latest ISE Explorer autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to China Ocean Mineral Resource R&D Association (COMRA). This ISE Explorer AUV is the first rated for operations at 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
Kraken Awarded $1 Million Defense Contract
Kraken Robotic Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kraken Robotics Inc., has recently received a sonar signal processing software contract valued at approximately $1 million dollars from an international defense contractor. The 12-month contract is with a new customer and will be supported by Kraken’s recently established Acoustic Signal Processing Group.Kraken aid it is targeting additional international opportunities in this segment and sees major opportunities within the upcoming Canadian Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade, the Canadian Surface Combatant program and other international
Forum Tackles Decom Challenges
and engaging the supply chain are needed to make the most of new decommissioning opportunities.“Many cost-effective solutions lie within the service sector and strong communication between operators and the supply chain is vital to support this capability. Events like this provide both the vehicle and environment for interactive discussion and are effective in drawing out new ideas and approaches. They provide the supply chain with better visibility of the challenges and opportunities, as well as bringing operators together to share experiences and learnings.”Summing up the operators&rsquo
All IOOS Regional Networks Are Now NOAA-certified
that compile and distribute data on America’s coastal waters, Great Lakes and oceans. IOOS data, such as water temperature, water level, currents, winds and waves, are collected by many different tools including satellites, buoys, tide gauges, radar stations, animal tags and underwater vehicles.Certification expands the pool of federal-quality data available nationwide, meaning users can rely on the data or information tools offered through these regional associations and be assured it is as reliable and trusted as the data from other federal sources like NOAA. Scientists, managers and
Subsea Defense: Extending Unmanned Capabilities
the cold war, Iain Shepherd, Technical Director, MARCOM Defence told UDT. “Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait meant a land and air force focus,” he said. “Today, I think we have lost 15-20 years in ASW development.”Marine autonomous systems (MAS), including AUVs, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and or “off-board” sensors are part of the solution, to extend the reach of existing systems and, longer term, potentially replace them, alongside better knowledge and use of the oceans (understanding the ocean environment to make strategic use of it) and data.However, MAS can
Sonardyne Aids US Navy Underwater Vehicle Testing
Underwater target tracking technology from Houston-based Sonardyne Inc., has been chosen by the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division for testing subsea systems and underwater vehicles in development for the Navy and wider maritime industry.Located in Maryland, Carderock Division is the U.S. Navy's research, engineering, modelling and test center for surface and undersea technologies. It is the largest, most comprehensive establishment of its kind in the world. Thanks to its proximity to the Gulf Stream, Carderock’s South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility (SFOMF)
Seafloor Crawlers: New Robotic Tools for Challenging Missions
to operate in mixed environments is unique, whereas the SZC allows access to areas that surface craft, swimmers or human based techniques could not. The Sea Otter SZC operates with negative buoyancy while operating in the lower energy boundary layer. The low profile further minimizes current drag. The vehicle has operated in 1.5-m plunging surf and can cross soft terrain that will not support human loads. Recent tests demonstrated the ability to carry 40-kg payloads as well as tow a 45-kg sled across various marine surfaces.Specs of the Otter-SZC include:Symmetrical dual-sided operation for operation
A System of Systems Approach to Mine Countermeasures
A team of underwater, surface and aerial unmanned vehicles was recently deployed Newport, R.I. to demonstrate a “System of Systems” approach to expeditionary mine-countermeasures (MCM).The multi domain unmanned assets were deployed by Teledyne Marine and its industry partners at The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport during the 2018 Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) August 29-31.The multi-vehicle, multi-company demonstration began with a Power Docks Blue Isles Autonomous Power Microgrid platform simulating providing power to all vehicles. A Teledyne Oceanscience
Competitor Preps for XPRIZE Final with 24-hour Sea Trial
resources, the GEBCO-NF Alumni Team has been continually developing its concept, adding new technology and improving systems and processes informed by the lessons learned in the semifinal round. The team’s improved concept utilizes a purpose-built Kongsberg Maritime HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), rated to operate at depths up to 4,500 meters, which includes all of the company’s most up-to-date technologies. The AUV is supported by a SEA-KIT unmanned surface vessel, USV Maxlimer. The SEA-KIT vessel has been designed and built by Hushcraft in the U.K., and has the unique ability
Teledyne RDI Improves DVL Bottom-tracking Range
than ever before.TRDI said extensive in-house and customer testing has proven this extended range in a wide array of conditions and terrains, and in fact, has exceeded design expectations.Grant Jennings, Director of Navigation product line at TRDI explained, “We have seen an increase in smaller vehicles operating to greater depths. Our 38kHz DVLs can bottom track to over 2,500m and our 150 kHz DVLs can bottom track to over 500m, but these products are too large to use on the emerging smaller class vehicles.“TRDI’s 30 years of Doppler signal processing experience has allowed us to develop
