Offshore staff
WARMINSTER, UK – Autonomous Robotics (ARL) is collaborating with Robert Gordon University (RGU) on a simultaneous, distributed localization system for a swarm of autonomous underwater sensor flying nodes.
The aims are to improve the capability of the flying node system and reduce the cost and time for ocean bottom seismic surveys.
Dr. Wai-keung Fung and Adham Sabra, both with the Communications and Autonomous Systems Group at RGU’s School of Engineering, are leading the program.
ARL Chairman Dave Grant said the localization system would allow the flying nodes to operate in a swarm and move from their initial seabed position to a new seabed location.
Dr. Wai-keung Fung added: “This great opportunity enables our research group to apply AI algorithms for large scale underwater swarm localization, which is one of the core research problems in underwaterrobotics and sensor networks.
“Localization accuracy can be greatly improved by fusing estimates from multiple localisation methods. This can enhance autonomous deployment and retrieval of underwater flying nodes for various subsea missions, including marine seismic surveys.”
Earlier ARL had conducted successful autonomous sea trials of a prototype ‘flying node’ autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) at a location offshore Plymouth harbour, southwest England.
These demonstrated the AUV’s autonomous navigation and seabed landing and take-off capabilities.
10/12/2018
