Posted: November 6th, 2023

Developing Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Inspection, Surveillance and Light Cargo Transfer

Developing Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Inspection, Surveillance and Light Cargo Transfer

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are water-borne vessels that are capable of operating on the surface of the water without any onboard human operators. Originally created by retrofitting previously manned craft with radio controls, a wide variety of purpose-built unmanned surface vehicles are now available. USVs can operate with various levels of autonomy, from remote control to fully autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs).

USVs have many applications in different domains, such as oceanography, environmental monitoring, maritime security, defense, and commerce. In this blog post, we will focus on three specific use cases of USVs: inspection, surveillance and light cargo transfer.

Inspection

USVs can be used for inspection of underwater structures, such as pipelines, cables, offshore platforms, bridges, dams, and ports. USVs can carry sensors and cameras to collect data and images of the submerged assets, and transmit them to a remote operator or a shore station. USVs can also perform maintenance tasks, such as cleaning, repairing, or replacing parts of the structures. USVs offer several advantages over traditional methods of inspection, such as divers or manned vessels. USVs can reduce the cost, time, and risk involved in inspection operations, as well as improve the quality and frequency of data collection.

Surveillance

USVs can be used for surveillance of maritime areas, such as coastal zones, harbors, rivers, lakes, and oceans. USVs can monitor the activities and movements of vessels, people, animals, and objects in the water. USVs can also detect and track threats, such as pirates, smugglers, terrorists, illegal fishing, or pollution. USVs can provide real-time situational awareness and intelligence to the authorities or stakeholders involved in maritime security and safety. USVs can also cooperate with other platforms, such as satellites, aircrafts, drones, or other USVs, to form a networked system for enhanced surveillance capabilities.

Light Cargo Transfer

USVs can be used for light cargo transfer between ships or between ships and shore. USVs can carry small packages or containers of goods or materials that need to be delivered quickly or urgently. USVs can also transport hazardous or sensitive items that require special handling or security measures. USVs can reduce the dependence on human labor and conventional transportation modes for light cargo transfer. USVs can also increase the efficiency and flexibility of logistics operations in the maritime domain.

Conclusion

USVs are emerging as a promising technology for various applications in the maritime domain. USVs can perform tasks that are dull, dirty, dangerous, or difficult for humans or manned vessels. USVs can also offer benefits such as cost reduction, time saving, risk mitigation, data enhancement, and operational innovation. USVs are expected to grow rapidly in the near future, as the technology matures and the regulatory environment evolves.

References

: Unmanned Surface Vehicle | USV Manufacturers | Unmanned Boat. (2023). Retrieved September 2nd 2023 from https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/expo/unmanned-surface-vehicles-usv/

: Unmanned surface vehicle – Wikipedia. (2022). Retrieved October 6th 2022 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_surface_vehicle

: Fugro’s unmanned surface vessels – Fugro. (2021). Retrieved July 28th 2021 from https://www.fugro.com/our-expertise/our-services/marine-asset-integrity/unmanned-surface-vessels

: Thales Group – Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV). (2020). Retrieved June 15th 2020 from https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/defence-and-security/unmanned-systems/unmanned-surface-vehicles-usv

: L3Harris Technologies – Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV). (2019). Retrieved May 10th 2019 from https://www.l3harris.com/capabilities/autonomous-surface-vehicles-asv