National Science Foundation to fund $1.5 million project to develop underwater robot swarm for studying ice shelves

A team of researchers from Oregon State University will lead a three-year, $1.5 million project to develop and test an underwater robot swarm for studying ice shelves. The robots will be able to collect critical data on the size of ice cavities and the properties of the surrounding environment.

The project is funded by the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs. The project aims to advance underwater research in enclosed and difficult-to-access environments, such as cavities beneath ice shelves.

Image source: WVU researcher helping to deploy robots underwater (kolotv.com) 

Working in water under ice is particularly challenging, as communication in these conditions is difficult and there is no direct access to the surface to retrieve a submarine robot. Scientists need robots that can enter these spaces and then return safely.

The working concept is a system that includes a large underwater mothership that carries and can deploy a swarm of small AUVs, which can disperse and explore the waters beneath a melting ice shelf or in other difficult-to-reach locations. The robots will be able to operate autonomously and make decisions based on the surrounding conditions.

The project will involve the development of a system for deploying and retrieving the swarm of small AUVs from the mothership, the development of equipment and protocols for communication and positioning in underwater conditions, and algorithms for navigation and decision-making that allow the robots to adapt their behavior and data collection to the conditions they encounter.

Over the next three years, researchers plan to conduct a series of tests in water, including tests in a frozen lake in Oregon.

If the challenge can be solved in the most challenging underwater environment, the development could be effectively used in a number of other conditions, such as in coastal waters, where a swarm of small AUVs could be effectively used for sampling.

Rover technologies are already well known for aerial and terrestrial environments, but off-the-shelf solutions do not work in underwater-underice environments.

The research team also includes Phil Landrigan from Brigham Young University; Atsushi Muto from Temple University; Nicholas Ripkema from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Yu She from Purdue University; and Si Yu from West Virginia University. 

Ocean Infinity's underwater robots will help Equinor develop wind energy

Ocean Infinity, a company specializing in the use of robotic technologies in the maritime industry, has announced a contract with Equinor Wind US LLC. The agreement involves the creation of a floating offshore wind farm off the west coast of the United States.

AUV Hugin, Ocean Infinity

Based in Austin, USA, Ocean Infinity develops unmanned surface vessels and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The company has about 20 AUVs. According to the company's statement, several AUVs will be used in the project simultaneously, and the data obtained will be used to make informed decisions during the planning and construction phases of the wind farm with a floating platform. Cean Infinity will be responsible for the actual construction of the floating offshore wind farm. 

AUV Hugin, Ocean Infinity

The construction of the floating offshore wind farm is expected to take place in several stages, starting with site preparation and ending with equipment installation and commissioning. Throughout the process, Ocean Infinity will provide its AUVs for data collection to create an SAP - site assessment plan and COP - construction and operation plan. The working depths at the site range from 974 to 1317 meters. The project is set to begin in February 2024. \\ 

Britain to showcase XLAUV demonstrator in second half of 2024

BAE Systems, the largest defense company in the United Kingdom, has announced a partnership with another English company -  Cellula Robotics. In this collaboration, the two partners will showcase the capabilities of the XLAUV, also known as Herne. The demonstrator will submerge in the second half of 2024.

image source: baesystems.com

Herne is positioned as an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle with extensive customization and modification capabilities. The XLAUV will be much more stealthy than most submarines. The drone will be capable of carrying lightweight towed sonar array or other underwater crafts, including those designed for mine countermeasures.

Autonomous platforms will engage in monitoring large underwater territories and assisting the fleet in avoiding the limitations of manned and highly expensive platforms. Developers highlight Herne's flexibility and extended persistence. The platform is expected to participate in anti-submarine operations, in conjunction with electronic warfare measures, as well ISR.

The demonstrator will show the capabilities of BAE Systems' technology on one of Cellula Robotics' underwater drones. Production of Herne is anticipated to commence within the next 3-5 years.

source: baesystems.com  

Miniature AUVs will conduct under-ice exploration in space

Scientists believe that there may be oceans hidden beneath the icy surfaces of Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus. Exploring these bodies of water could lead to new scientific discoveries, but it is a complex engineering challenge that will be addressed by the TRIPLE project. The abbreviation TRIPLE stands for "Technologies for Rapid Ice Penetration and Exploration of Subglacial Lakes."

The TRIPLE-nanoAUV 2 project, coordinated by MARUM, aims to solve technological challenges related to creating underwater AUVs for research on the moons of other planets. This is one of several projects, including TRIPLE-GNC and TRIPLE-LifeDetect. The developments will be tested during field trials scheduled for 2026 under the Antarctic ice shelf near the Neumayer III station.

Graphic: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen.

MARUM, together with partners from the aerospace and underwater acoustics fields, will develop the nano-AUVs. An LRS (Launch and Recovery System) will also be developed to allow the nano-AUVs to dock with the underwater part of the station to transmit collected data and recharge their batteries. As a special probe will provide access to ice up to 4,000 meters thick, the underwater vehicle will be unusually small, measuring approximately half a meter in length and 10 cm in diameter.

Planned demonstration of the TRIPLE system at the Neumayer III Station (Antarctica) (Credits: Maximilian Nitsch/RWTH Aachen University).

During testing, the system will have to penetrate 100 meters of Antarctic ice, for which the TRIPLE-IceCraft system has already been developed. The navigation and control system TRIPLE-GNC and the scientific payload TRIPLE-LifeDetect are yet to be developed.

MARUM and the University of Bremen are coordinating the current project with partners from DSI Aerospace Technologie GmbH in Bremen and EvoLogics GmbH in Berlin. The total funding volume for the project is 2.68 million euros until September 2026.

Cellula Robotics Initiates Sea Trials of its Solus-XR XLUUV System

The Solus-XR AUV from Cellula Robotics is set to revolutionize underwater exploration and research. With its hydrogen fuel cell technology, this ultra-large class unmanned vehicle is capable of traveling up to 5,000 km without support vessels, making it ideal for missions under the ice. Sea trials have been underway since late August 2023 off the coast of West Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Solus-XR is already being hailed as one of Canada's largest unmanned underwater vehicles ever created.

photo: Cellula Robotics

Designed as an upgrade to the Solus-LR device, the Solus-XR boasts impressive capabilities that make it stand out from other underwater vehicles. Its ability to move along the route "from port to port" means it can operate without the support of a port, making it an invaluable tool for a range of missions. During sea trials, the Solus-XR's surface characteristics and autonomy in a dynamic marine environment will be tested, paving the way for future underwater exploration.

photo: Cellula Robotics

Looking ahead, Cellula Robotics plans to conduct demonstration missions in 2024 to showcase the full range of Solus-XR capabilities in real-world scenarios. With its cutting-edge technology and impressive capabilities, the Solus-XR is set to change the face of underwater exploration and research. \\ 

Mocean Energy to build wave power station

Edinburgh-based company Mocean Energy has received £3.2m in European funding for a project to create a “green” energy source at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) on the Orkney archipelago in northern Scotland by 2030. The project will involve the construction of a wave power station with a capacity of between 1 MW and 2 MW based on Blue Horizon 250 devices (with a capacity of 250 kW).

Blue Horizon 250, render - Mocean Energy

Mocean Energy already has experience in creating a 10 kW prototype wave power station, Mocean Blue X. 

Blue X, photo - Mocean Energy

Blue X, photo - Mocean Energy

The interaction between Blue X and the underwater Halo battery system developed by Verlume was tested. This infrastructure provides power for Transmark Subsea’s resident AUVs.

Blue X, render - Mocean Energy

The principle of operation of the wave power station can be described as follows: a float with wave channels at the ends captures the power of sea waves. Direct drive Vernier Hybrid Machine generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy at very low speeds.

Such autonomous wave power stations can replace diesel generator-based systems currently used, for example, on offshore platforms, in marine aquaculture, and in remote island communities. And, of course, this source of energy can be used to power underwater charging stations for resident underwater robots.

Another example is the useful tandem of surface and underwater marine robots. If, of course, the wave power station is considered a surface robot. \\

Oceaneering will acquire DriX USV for deepwater surveys

Oceaneering International, a Norway-based company that provides various underwater services, announced this week its plans to purchase its first unmanned surface vehicle (USV) DriX from Exail. DriX (youtube) is expected to be used to support deepwater geophysical surveys and asset inspections, including autonomous positioning of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), shelf and near-shelf surveys. 

Photo:  oceaneering.com 

The use of USV is expected to help Oceaneering increase operational efficiency, reducing mission time. The USV will provide ROV positioning based on a satellite positioning system with dual independent correction using the C-NAV Oceaneering system (youtube). This will allow for longer ROV surveys without the need for intermediate resurfacing, and improve data reliability. 

The DriX USV was introduced in 2016. The vehicle is capable of autonomous operations under the control of CortiX software based on AI and modern sensors.

• Length: 7,71 m
• Width: 0.824 m
• Height: 3.2 m
• Displacement: 1.4 t
• Hull material: carbon-kevlar composite material
• Weight: 1380 kg
• Power plant: 38 hp diesel engine
• Fuel tank: 250 l (average consumption: 2 l/h)
• Propulsion: one straight shaft with one fixed propeller

It is expected that DriX will be able to work in conjunction with Oceaneering ROVs in open sea conditions up to sea state 5 without compromising data quality. 

Thus, it involves a combination of surface and underwater robots, allowing for remote underwater surveys without losing positioning accuracy.

More information about DriX: https://geo-matching.com/products/drix 

Source:  oceaneering.com 

AUVs will recharge without a mothership

The US Department of Defense is testing hydrogen fuel cells that have the potential to significantly increase the autonomy of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and minimize their dependence on shore infrastructure and mother ships. The project was launched in August 2023, and the tests are scheduled to begin in early 2024.

    image source: saab.com 

The US Department of Defense is testing hydrogen fuel cells that have the potential to significantly increase the autonomy of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and minimize their dependence on shore infrastructure and mother ships. The project was launched in August 2023, and the tests are scheduled to begin in early 2024.

The American company Hibbard Inshore has prepared a hybrid version of the Saab Sabertooth - the AUV received the Subsea Supercharger system developed by Teledyne Energy Systems. It is expected that the implementation of fuel cells will increase the autonomy and range of the system, minimize the need for support ships and cut operation costs.

The deployment of hydrogen fuel cells - enhanced AUVs is complicated by a number of issues related to the need to store hydrogen and oxygen, provide buoyancy and trim in deep-water environments. The condensate formed during the operation of fuel cells in a sealed container can easily damage electronics, and the generated inert gases increase internal pressure. Most problems occur during system startup and shutdown - the moments when gases need to be removed from the anode and cathode loops. A trivial task, long solved on land, requires fundamentally new approaches for implementation in the underwater environment, and most importantly - in the enclosed environment of AUVs.

The integration of hydrogen fuel cells into AUVs promises significant expansion of their capabilities and numerous new areas for their potential application.

Source: naval-technology.com  

Is the idea of using solar energy in underwater exploration viable?

At first glance, the idea may not seem promising. After all, how much solar energy can penetrate through the thickness of water? It is well known that eternal darkness reigns at depth. Nevertheless, researchers from Tandon University in New York have been considering the prospects of photovoltaics in exploring the world's oceans using autonomous and remotely operated underwater robots. Source: Nature Photonic https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-023-01276-z 

Underwater robots are an excellent tool for scientists to conduct various underwater explorations. However, the autonomy of robots is limited by the need for constant recharging. Often, onboard power sources are not installed on remotely operated vehicles, forcing them to rely on power supplied through cables from accompanying vessels.

The Tandon researchers are considering creating alternative power systems for autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles that would allow them to surface less frequently for recharging. Moreover, underwater power sources would also be useful for underwater sensors, navigation, and communication systems, reducing their dependence on battery resources or eliminating the need to run power cables to them.

Research has shown that using waves, tides, and currents for underwater exploration has potential, but their effectiveness depends on location and can limit mobility. Thermal energy from the ocean and temperature gradients are also options, but they have limited potential for stationary underwater devices. However, sunlight has potential as visible light can penetrate up to 50 meters deep, providing energy for recharging underwater robots and electronic devices. 

One issue with using photovoltaic cells underwater is that common ones are optimized for red and infrared light, reducing their efficiency underwater. Alternative options such as gallium indium phosphide (GaInP) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) panels show higher efficiency in ocean conditions, as well as organic (OSC) and perovskite cells. 

Biofouling is another issue as research has shown that after just 30 days, over 50% of the absorbing surface of underwater panels is affected, reducing their efficiency. This problem is more significant in tropical waters but becomes less of an issue at higher latitudes, making the idea viable in Arctic waters. 

While a final answer to the question of using solar energy in underwater exploration is premature, the idea of using photovoltaics to create underwater solar power stations may be worth further investigation.  \\ 

Nauticus Robotics to test leak detection technology using AUVs

Nauticus Robotics has reached an agreement with its local partner, Stinger Technology AS from Norway, to jointly carry out a pilot project. The companies will test their proprietary hydrocarbon leak detection technology using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) on behalf of international energy company, Equinor. The project is expected to expand the range of applications for AUVs. 

Equinor operates around 600 subsea wells and approximately 9,000 km of subsea pipelines, risers, and cables that require maintenance. A successful pilot project will provide Nauticus with the opportunity to compete for contracts with Equinor.

Nauticus Robotics is a developer of ocean robots, including intervention type AUV's with AI. The company provides RaaS services to commercial and government entities, or sells hardware platforms and software licenses. 

“The project for Equinor highlights the versatility of our fleet offering and the increasing need for technologies like ours to address the many challenges for subsea operations in Norway and around the globe,” said Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Nauticus. “This milestone is yet another example of how we are at the forefront of this technical revolution and are changing how work is done in our precious oceans.”

Source: ir.nauticusrobotics.com/