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

“小型，低成本的自主水下航行器（auv）在恶劣和具有挑战性的海洋环境中为自主系统的可访问性，采用和使用提供了一个逐步改变。ecoSUB AUV是由Planet Ocean和国家海洋学中心（NOC）合作开发的，为用户提供低成本、小型、易于操作、发射和回收的AUV平台，具有高达2500米的额定深度和长距离/持久能力。然而，这些车辆的应用范围非常广泛，它们的尺寸和设计价格点存在固有的局限性，因此，它们无法依赖现有的导航技术，例如昂贵的惯性导航系统（INS），大型多普勒速度日志（DVLs）和传统的长基线定位（LBL），并且由于它们的小尺寸，低功率/远程能力对潮汐和水流的抵抗力有限，以及它们所带来的导航挑战。该项目旨在开发以终端用户需求为导向的创新解决方案，实现精确的水下定位和智能人工智能在动态环境中的导航，它转化了水下定位的基础研究，并为auv车队提供了智能网络定位系统和增强的人工智能导航功能。纽卡斯尔大学ComS2IP小组开发的创新声学纳米调制解调器技术是该项目成功的重要组成部分。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国际提供，BP国际自2015年以来一直为ecoSUB AUV产品开发提供广泛支持，并期待将该技术嵌入到他们的运营中。项目团队有成功的合作历史；Planet Ocean和国家海洋学中心（NOC）之前已经成功完成了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密切合作，共同开发纳米水下调制解调器技术和其他系统，这些系统此前已在知识产权许可安排下商业化。”

"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."