Enabling low cost AUV technology: Development of smart networks & AI based navigation for dynamic underwater environments

小型、低成本的自主水下机器人(AUV)正在为恶劣和具有挑战性的海洋环境中的自主系统的获取、采用和使用带来巨大的变化。ECOSUB AUV是由Planet Ocean和国家海洋学中心(NOC)合作开发的，为用户提供了低成本、小、易于操作、发射和回收的AUV平台，具有高达2500米的深度额定和远程/续航能力。这些飞行器的应用范围很广，但它们受到尺寸和设计价格的内在限制，因此无法依赖现有的导航技术，如昂贵的惯性导航系统(INS)、大多普勒速度记录(DVLS)和传统的长基线定位(LBL)，而且由于它们体积小、低功率/远距离能力，对潮汐和洋流的抵抗力有限，以及它们带来的导航挑战。本项目旨在开发一种最终用户需求主导的创新解决方案，使其能够在动态环境中进行精确的水下定位和智能人工智能导航，它翻译了水下定位的基础研究，并为AUV舰队提供了智能网络定位系统和增强的人工智能飞行员功能。在纽卡斯尔大学的ComS2IP小组内开发的创新的声学纳米调制解调器技术是该项目取得成功的不可或缺的组成部分。项目产出将在海上石油和天然气环境中进行测试，由我们的最终用户合作伙伴BP国际公司提供，自2015年以来，BP国际公司为ecoSUB AUV产品开发提供了广泛支持，并期待着将这项技术嵌入他们的运营中。该项目团队有成功的合作历史；Planet Ocean和国家海洋学中心(NOC)之前曾成功地完成了Innovate UK/DSTL项目，并合作开发了ecoSUB AUV技术。纽卡斯尔大学一直与Planet Ocean和NOC在开发他们的纳米水下调制解调器技术和以前根据IP许可安排进行商业化的其他系统方面进行了良好的合作。“

"Small, low cost Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are providing a step-change in the accessibility, adoption and use of autonomous systems in the harsh and challenging marine environment.ecoSUB AUVs have been developed in collaboration between Planet Ocean and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and provide users with low cost, small, easy to operate, launch and recover, AUV platforms with up to 2,500m depth rating and long range/endurance capability. Applications for these vehicles are extensive, however, they have inherent limitations related to their size and design price point, as such, they are unable to rely on incumbent technologies for navigation, such as expensive Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), large Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) and traditional Long Baseline positioning (LBL), and due to their small size, low power/long range capability have limited resistance to tides and currents and the navigational challenge they present.This project seeks to develop an end-user requirements led innovative solution enabling accurate underwater positioning and smart AI for navigating in dynamic environments, it translates fundamental research in underwater positioning and delivers a Smart Network Positioning system for fleets of AUVs and an enhanced AI pilot feature. Innovative acoustic nano-modem technology developed within Newcastle University's ComS2IP group is an integral component in delivering success in this project.The project outputs will be tested in an offshore oil and gas environment, kindly provided by our end-user partner, BP International, who have provided extensive support to the ecoSUB AUV product development since 2015 and look forward to embedding this technology into their operations.The project team have a successful history of collaboration; Planet Ocean and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have previously completed a successful Innovate UK / Dstl project, and developed the ecoSUB AUV technology in partnership. Newcastle University have been well engaged with both Planet Ocean and NOC in the development of their nano-underwater modem technology and other systems previously commercialised under IP licencing arrangements."