The very small Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) was developed by Safeguard Nautica in collaboration with control systems partner Reygar, as a part of a project sponsored by UK Research & Innovation’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund for Robotics & Artificial Intelligence in Extreme & Challenging Environments.
The unmanned platform with automated swathe following and station-keeping features was verified in high-current environments, streaming live data to the operator onshore. The vectored-thrust propulsion system offering precise control and redundancy, draws upon Reygar’s previous experience in developing dynamic positioning systems.
Safeguard Nautica has focused design effort on packaging the mREAV into a lightweight and compact USV which may be carried in small vehicles or as civilian aircraft luggage, working with Dr..Rachel Nicholls-Lee to develop an optimised hull form which reduces flow disturbance in way of the survey payload. The result is a sensor platform less than 1m in length and weighing less than 20kg.
During trials, mREAV was operated in still water environments and in high-current estuaries, demonstrating a capability to follow pre-programmed survey missions whilst streaming live survey data to create accurate bathymetries in shallow-water or hazardous environments.
‘These initial trials have proven the concept for an integrated robotic survey platform for environmental monitoring within high-current environments, providing a pathway to low-cost survey acquisition for contingency assignments worldwide or for the waterborne site investigator where environmental monitoring is just a part of the day-job. The demand for systems such as mREAV are best demonstrated by the strong support we received from public authorities, hydrologists, asset owners and marine civil construction firms; as well as the academic community to participate in the second phase of the programme in which we will develop a larger inshore variant for tidal worksites, alongside continued optimisation of mREAV’, said Safeguard Nautica’s Director, David Hull.
“The unmanned vessel can be fitted with a variety of survey equipment, allowing it to map factors such as bathymetry, river flow rate, water quality and temperature – making it particularly ideal for organisations responsible for environmental monitoring, as well as ensuring safe navigation for inland vessels such as canal users,” said Reygar Managing Director, Chris Huxley-Reynard.
