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posted by Fnord666 on Thursday December 01 2016, @08:57PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-a-new-type-of-sandwich dept.

The first robotic microsub capable of being deployed from a robotic boat was unveiled at the Marine Autonomous and Technology Annual Showcase this November, at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

This innovative new design, led by Planet Ocean & co-developed by NOC, ASV ltd & The University of Southampton, is around three times smaller than current autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). At around 50cm long, their tiny size allows them to be used in ways previously not considered. Microsubs are also able to frequently monitor infrastructure, such as pipelines for corrosion or potential leaks in an extremely cost effective manner.

The new ecoSUBĪ¼ and larger ecoSUBm are economically and environmentally more cost efficient than their larger counterparts. Furthermore, a 'shoal' of microsubs can work together to collectively create a far superior 3-D map of the underwater environment than a lone AUV. They can survey a large area very quickly, covering hundreds of kilometres. Paired with complementary technologies, such as autonomous surface vehicles and satellites, a more complete picture of the oceanic environment can be constructed than ever before.

This new sub was developed at the new Marine Robotics Innovation Centre with the NOC, who have twenty years' experience of AUV development, and Planet Ocean. Kevin Forshaw, NOC's Associate Director, Innovation and Enterprise said "this is an example of a highly innovate new product, that is being rapidly brought to market due to the comprehensive support being offered from the technical team within the Marine Robotics Innovation Centre. Product development such as this, that draws on leading thinking from NOC and the University of Southampton, will help UK PLC to make further inroads into this rapidly expanding global market."

Will we finally find Atlantis?


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  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday December 01 2016, @10:33PM

    by frojack (1554) on Thursday December 01 2016, @10:33PM (#435711) Journal

    I'm waiting for THREE levels of indirection. A robot sub launched from a robot sub, launched from a robot boat.

    (It will probably come from the Germans, not the Americans).

    Paired with complementary technologies, such as autonomous surface vehicles and satellites, a more complete picture of the oceanic environment can be constructed than ever before.

    Meanwhile we still can't find MH-370.

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