DRONE TECH NAVAL AND MILITARY
DEFIANT HIGHLIGHTS NOMARS EVOLUTION
A
ugust saw the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) hold the naming
ceremony for USX-1 , an autonomous USV, at Everett Ship Repair, Washington. As the demonstrator for DARPA’s ‘No Manning Required Ship’ (NOMARS) programme, was designed for no humans on board from the outset, unlike ‘hybrid’ units that can accommodate human operators if required.
“By eliminating constraints and requirements associated with humans, NOMARS opens up the never be considered for crewed vessels,” DARPA says. reduce ‘cost per mission hour’ via reduced platform size, zero onboard manning and its ability to remain on mission for long periods of time.”
production and maintenance at facilities or Tier III shipyards that traditionally support yacht, tug
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING USV TO STREAMLINE WIND FARM APPROVALS A
UK initiative, Project ORACLES, aims to streamline
the environmental approval process at up-and-coming offshore wind farms. The Project ORACLES consortium, which is headed by Robosys Automation
and includes Plymouth Marine Laboratories, ACUA Ocean, MSEIS and the ORE Catapult as partners, has secured funding from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Innovate UK Launchpad programme.
Robosys states: “Currently, the data collection process for environmental monitoring at proposed offshore wind farm sites is labour-intensive, with separate providers handling aspects such as bird monitoring and sea conditions. Data is collected manually and analysed after it reaches shore, slowing down the decision-making process.” Instead, Project ORACLES aims to “leverage advanced marine robotics” and autonomous systems to accelerate data transfer and analysis.
The project will see ACUA Ocean’s USV Pioneer (see page 16) equipped with sensors (including ADCP and acoustics) and used to collect real- time data on water quality, marine life and environmental changes. The consortium also plans to develop a DP system and a beyond-visual-line-of- system for water column data collection. ■
THE NAVAL ARCHITECT 17
and workboat customers. The 55m, 240tonne USV will now undergo systems testing in preparation for an extended at-sea demonstration, after which it will be turned over to the US Navy’s Unmanned
NOMARS programme manager Greg Avicola says: “While relatively small, …can handle operations in sea state 5 with no degradation and survive much higher seas, continuing operations once a storm passes. She is no wider than she onboard and we have no human passageways to worry about.” ■
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
