The Rise of Maritime Autonomous Systems Richard Daltry CEng, MRINA Technical Director, ASV
The Rise of Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) Contents Overview of ASV The development of Maritime Autonomous (Surface) Systems in 3 main domains Military and Defence Naval Targets Mine Countermeasures Oil and Gas Science and research Challenges in this growing industry The Future
Context A little about me Chartered Naval Architect (my way in designing unmanned boats) Working at ASV since 2005 Technical Director from 2012 Worked at all levels Designing small components to whole systems Undertaken operations on all platform types Building and running a MAS company Taking part in industry working groups nationally and internationally Presentation largely focused on ASV products and experience ASV Autonomous Surface Vehicles
ASV Design, Build and Operate Unmanned Marine Systems Marine Targets Military and Security Oil and Gas Science and Survey
About ASV Company Building unmanned marine systems since 2001 Over 70 systems delivered to date Growing, high technology marine systems ~60 employees worldwide ASV US opened May 2014 Provide rugged, reliable and effective unmanned marine systems Facilities 24,000 SQ FT workshop Waterside location, slipways, moorings Modern 3D CAD equipped design office Boat fitting and testing bays Electronic/electrical prototyping lab Markets Military and Security Marine Targets Oil and Gas Science and Survey
Customers
Military and Defence Naval Targets Why? Gunnery training Gunnery evaluation and procedural development Weapons development and demonstration Command and control exercises Where UK, South Korea, Singapore, Norway What next More of the same Cost effective regular gunnery training solutions Swarm attacks Improved feedback (hit sensors, missed distance sensors)
Military and Defence Target Product Development Concept FMTD 4000 (2006) Prototype FMTD 4000 (2007) FMTD 5000 production (2007-2010) C-Target 6 (2012+) C-Target 3 (2012+) C-Target 9 (2013+) C-Target 13 (2013+) FMTD 6000 (2010-2011) 46 Target Drones built to date Engaged by 15 different weapon systems
Military and Defence Target Products
Military and Defence Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Two approaches Mine hunting and disposal Mine sweeping Obvious first front line use of unmanned surface vehicles in Navies worldwide Worlds leading Navies now moving towards off board systems to do MCM Reduced risk, take the man out of the minefield Potential cost saving, remove requirement for highly specialised and expensive mine-hunting/sweeping ships C-Sweep concept (2011) Thales Halcyon demonstrator (2013) Future variants bidding on various programs worldwide
Military and Defence - MCM
Oil and Gas Why Reduce costs Reduce risk/improve safety Improve data quality What Marine construction survey ROV positioning Calibrating LBL arrays Positioning seabed transducers Metocean data collection Passive acoustic monitoring Cetacean detection and tracking Seismic survey support Hydrographic survey Security How C-Worker product family Partnerships with Oil and Gas service companies
Oil and Gas SASS (2001) USS 6300 (2008) C-Stat 2 (2012) C-Worker 12 (2016) C-Worker 6 (2014+) C-Worker 3 (2016)
Oil and Gas C-Worker 6 Payloads Modular system allows rapid payload re-configuration Large capacity for a range of payloads and future upgrades Moon pool design Payloads can be shipped separately to vehicles if required MBES ADCP Acoustic Modem USBL
Science and Research Why? What? How? Reduce costs Reduce risk/improve safety Improve data quality and quantity Platform availability Metocean data collection CTD and ADCP Passive acoustic monitoring Cetacean detection and tracking Fish tracking and stock assessments Communications gateway for AUV s and buoyancy gliders Hydrocarbon monitoring C-Enduro product family Long endurance offshore sensor deployment
Science and Research 2010-2013 Small battery powered USVs, short endurance 2014 onwards Long endurance USVs Three-pillar power structure; solar; wind; diesel generator
Technology Challenges Launch and Recovery from ships Solutions in place for large construction ships (C- Worker solutions) Navy still searching for solutions for existing and future surface ships Operations over the horizon Sense and navigation systems (autonomy) Collision avoidance COLREGS Cost effective and reliable communications systems Satellite communications Antenna and modem performance on highly mobile maritime vehicles Antenna size for small vehicles Data costs Data compression, management and security Reliability Data assurance
Regulatory Challenges How do we as MAS industry members work within the regulatory and legal framework already in place in the maritime industry? No internationally agreed way forward yet Working groups are however in place and making progress UK Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group European Defence Agency working group AUVSI committee UK industry code of conduct in development Most UK MAS organisations involved Some international organisations are already keen to join Will promote safe and responsible MAS operations R&D projects funded by InnovateUK are working through the challenges to help inform the code and working groups UK MCA are very engaged and supportive to the industry
People Challenges Skills Very quick industry growth so far but already a significant shortage of engineers in the UK with tough competition from aerospace, medical, bio-tech This exciting industry must continue to attract people with the following skillsets Electrical Engineers System Engineers Test Engineers Materials Engineers Dreamers Assembly Technicians Mariners Sales and Marketing Naval Architects Safety Engineers Mechanical Engineers Business Managers Operators ASV and NOC have entered into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to work to applying risk and reliability management techniques to the development of Unmanned Marine Systems designed and built at ASV.
The Future for Maritime Autonomous Systems The future looks good Maritime autonomous systems are already undertaking work offshore Huge potential for greater use of maritime autonomous systems across a wide spectrum of offshore industries UK industry has a huge opportunity and export prospects are good However, there are challenges to overcome In the UK, marine facilities and skills are a challenge Regulatory approach for MAS needs solutions There are plenty of technical challenges left to resolve The good news is that projects are underway in all areas The rise of unmanned systems is set to continue!
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