ASL and Open Ocean Robotics to Collaborate on Air-Sea Ocean Monitoring System Project

11 August 2025

(Image credit: ASL)

ASL Environmental Sciences has announced a new collaboration with Open Ocean Robotics, as part of the Air-Sea Ocean Monitoring System (ASOMS) project, partially funded by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. As part of this joint effort, ASL’s Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) is being integrated into Open Ocean Robotics’ solar-powered surface vehicles to explore new possibilities in autonomous ocean monitoring.

The AZFP is a calibrated, scientific echosounder that is often deployed on moorings, providing a multifrequency time series lasting 12 months or longer. Combining ASL’s AZFP with Open Ocean Robotics’ innovative uncrewed platforms demonstrates a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer approach to collecting oceanographic data in diverse and remote marine environments.

Key Benefits of the Integrated System:

Spatial and Temporal Coverage: Deploying the AZFP on the mobile DataXplorer^TM USV enables spatial surveys that enhance and complement the temporal data gathered by moored AZFP systems, providing a more complete picture of changing ocean conditions.
Remote Control: The project is advancing technologies for fully remote operation of the AZFP, including near real-time data streaming to shore and onboard AI data processing, enabling faster decision-making.
Remote Environmental Stewardship: The integrated system supports long-range, autonomous monitoring of marine environments, providing the tools needed for responsible ocean stewardship.