2022 SOST Opportunities and Actions Roundtable
Summary: Most scientifically or commercially useful ocean data is today gathered using large ships that cost many thousands of dollars to outfit and run, even for short missions. Besides their cost, the lack of available vessels means that many research ships have wait times measured in months or years.
By fielding large fleets of autonomous ocean vessels, NOAA and other private and public sector stakeholders can collect and share more comprehensive data sets at a much lower cost. Low/no-emissions autonomous surface vehicles are already in trials for applications including marine mammal research and protection, harmful algal bloom detection, bathymetric mapping, carbon sequestration measurements, and offshore infrastructure monitoring, and so far they have been remarkably successful.
With each success, it becomes clearer that these technologies are ready to transition from pilots to recurring, wide-scale operations. We propose two steps to accelerate this process. The first is to explore recent technological innovations and invest in diversifying the autonomous fleet. Projects so far have used large, deep-ocean platforms, but the full value of ocean autonomy will not be realized without leveraging cost-effective platforms that can work even in congested near-shore areas. Second, we recommend increasing opportunities for crewed/uncrewed teaming. Operating a fleet of autonomous vehicles in concert with a crewed mothership would give ocean operators the chance to become familiar with autonomous systems, enable data cross-validations, and act as an ideal bridge from traditional projects to fully autonomous operations.
Sector: Industry
Organization: Seasats
POC: Declan Kerwin, declan@seasats.com
Other Contacts: Jessica Hulsey, jessica@seasats.com; Mike Flanigan, mike@seasats.com