Panel Discussion on unmanned Hydrography Overview Why bother General Types Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) TerraSond s Experiences AUV and ROV NOAA Charting Surveys w USV Seafloor Systems Small USV ASV Global Large USV
Why Bother Why bother Cons Typically harder than just with boats and people Generally not cheaper Requires an addition level of expertise and effort Often requires a boat on hand anyway Pros Ability to deploy sensors in inaccessible areas Reduced personnel exposure to risk Force Multiplier Can scale with projects Some systems have long endurance
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Scale from hand deployed to multi-ton Battery powered Cons MUCH harder than with boats and people Not cheaper Requires an addition level of expertise and effort Requires a boat on hand anyway Limited coverage due to power constraints Positioning underwater is a challenge Pros Ability to deploy sensors in inaccessible areas Better resolution at depth Able to go to areas that are denied
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) ROV Scales from hand deployed to multi-ton Connected to surface support with umbilical Cons Harder than with boats and people Expensive. Slow (under 1-2 knots) Systems capable of survey are typically large and required substantial support vessel (DPII Typically) Requires an multiple additional experts and effort Harder to position things underwater Pros Ability to deploy sensors in inaccessible areas Better resolution at depth Control of sensor location
Unmanned Survey Vessel (USV) USV Scales from hand deployed to multi-ton Typically supervised (semi autonomy) Cons Harder than with boats and people Sometimes extra effort Requires an addition level of expertise Pros Ability to deploy sensors in inaccessible areas Sediment Ponds Rivers Sensitive areas Reduced personnel exposure to risk Force Multiplier Can scale with projects Can persist onsite or offshore.
TerraSond s Experience (AUV and ROV) Both are good ways to get resolution in deep water that a surface ship cannot provide. Multibeam from ROV in Gulf of Mexico (GOM), New Zealand (NZ), Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Arizona Mapping Pipelines with multibeam in 2000 meters of water w ROV in GOM Mapping Underwater volcanoes with multibeam in 1500 meters of water for mining in NZ and PNG Scanning Sonar inside a hydroelectric dam in Arizona. 50 meters deep. Sonar added to ROV. Typically they provide video. We have used AUV s in both the Atlantic, the Pacific and the North Sea. Seafloor mapping with multibeam in 5000 meters of water The Clipperton Zone in the South Pacific is (one of the areas managed by the International Seabed Authority for mining activity.) Mapping sinkholes off Florida in 250 meters of water with multibeam and other sensors for science (USGS) Mapping pipelines in Brazil in various depths this month with multibeam, SAS and video.
TerraSond s 2015 Experience (USV) ASV-CT3 Aluminum 3.5 meters in length 1.4 meter beam 0.3 meter draft 325 Kg 20 hp Outboard Engine Survey Equipment Odom CV100 T5700 GPS Hemisphere V113 Hypack Results Logged ~200 Nautical Miles of Data or roughly 5% of project Gathered data in shallow areas that would have been difficult for main vessel to reach Limiting factors were endurance, ability to handle weather, safe lifting First use on NOAA Charting Project Many lessons learned. Project Area
ASV-CW5 Aluminum 5.5 meters in length 1.7 meter beam 0.9 meter draft 1900 Kg 57 hp diesel w shaft drive Custom LARS (Launch And Recovery System) Survey Equipment Identical to main vessel Reson Seabat 7101 Edgetech 4200 Sidescan Applanix POS/MV QPS QINSy Software CARIS Onboard Results Logged ~2275 Nautical Miles of Data or 44% of project Data Quality was very high Safe lifting experienced in seas of up to 1.8 meters. Reduced field time from 70 tp 25 days compared to a single vessel plan First use on NOAA Charting Project Many lessons learned but very productive. TerraSond s 2016 Experience (USV)
Takeaways Unmanned Hydrography is growing but is not usually autonomous Adoption is best for special needs or large projects Long duration projects are best for large USV s Small areas are best for man portable USV s ROV and AUV mapping is best used when resolution cannot be achieved from the surface. And the client is willing to pay. Lots. USV s are more accessible and more practical for most use than ROV and AUV.
Two USV Manufacturers ASV Global Based in the UK and Louisiana Manufacturer of larger USV s A variety of experience including military, oil field, research, charting Moving towards over the horizon (remotely supervised). Seafloor Systems Based in California Manufacturer of smaller USV s Used in a variety of applications Man portable systems with singlebeam and multibeam