Solar-powered USV captures Gulf of Mexico Loop Current data
Pioneering oceanographic data on Atlantic Ocean currents in the US Gulf of Mexico has been captured remotely, utilizing Sonardyne technology and an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) developed by SeaTrac Systems.
Sonardyne’s Origin 65 acoustic doppler current profilers (ADCPs) and current pressure inverted echosounders (CPIES) have been strategically deployed on the seabed to monitor the Loop Current System (LCS) in the Gulf of Mexico, where they continuously collect long-term data.
Understanding the LCS is critical for oceanographers due to its significant influence on various factors such as subsea operational disruptions, hurricane intensity and changes to nutrient cycles essential for marine ecosystems. However, traditional data collection methods involving manned vessels pose risks to crews, come with high costs and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
To overcome these challenges, SeaTrac recently launched its SP-48 USV from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) in Cocodrie, LA. The USV was remotely piloted over 580 nautical miles, equipped with an HPT 7000L transceiver to gather data acoustically from the ADCPs and CPIES.
Key moment in marine robotics
Powered by solar energy and onboard batteries, the USV offers a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to deploying crewed vessels, while enabling continuous, round-the-clock data collection without the need for human intervention.
Aidan Thorn, business development manager for Marine Robotics at Sonardyne, emphasized: “The use of a fully solar powered USV for a data gathering operation of this scale is a key moment in marine robotics. The Gulf of Mexico presents some of the most challenging ocean currents for any vessel, not least an uncrewed one. One of the key reasons SeaTrac was chosen to partner with us on this project was their willingness to rise to the challenge and we are delighted with the results. USVs are great platforms for collecting data from our seabed nodes and profilers through the integration of our acoustic communication technologies. We look forward to continued work with SeaTrac on this project and hopefully many others.”
Three more rounds of data collection are planned over the next 18 months, utilizing the same uncrewed methods until the project’s completion.
Hobie Boeschenstein, director of operations and business development at SeaTrac, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Sonardyne on this project. Our SP-48 USV provides a complete system for maritime observation, data collection and reconnaissance. Powered by the sun with high-reserve batteries, it can operate in both nearshore and offshore environments through varying weather and sea conditions, as this mission has demonstrated. It can undertake missions lasting from several hours to several months and is designed to support a wide range of customer payloads. Sonardyne’s technology and company ethos is a great fit for ours and we look forward to supporting them in many future missions.”
