9 July 2009

Underwater robots can communicate threats

Underwater laser networking and imaging technologies are now in development that could provide rapid identification and communication of potential threats in murky coastal waters.

In order to continue its research and development in the area of underwater laser sensing and robotics, Ocean Visibility and Optics Laboratory at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research.

Scientists are developing underwater laser networking and imaging to provide significant advantages over existing technologies to rapidly identify and communicate potential threats in murky coastal waters.

This project will build on current technologies and capabilities in laser imaging developed at Harbor Branch. When the technology is fully developed, the goal is for it to go onboard a group of small, co-operating underwater robots for future U.S. military operations including U.S. war fighters (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and mine countermeasures operations). It will also see use for maritime security and environmental assessment to address some of the most critical areas in need of ocean research and technology development over the next 10 years.

The project will work in three phases, with the overall goal of investigating concepts in concurrent laser imaging and communications where dual-purpose imaging and communications system components work within a group of underwater robots.

Researchers will use advanced computer simulation software to predict the underwater laser light field in variable environmental conditions. Combined with measurements from their state-of-the-art underwater laser test facility, which will be a proving ground for the techniques, the objective is to gain understanding of how these techniques can contribute to underwater imaging missions.

Images of suspicious underwater objects need to transmit in real time. “Underwater mines pose a major threat to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and merchant fleets,” said Dr. Fraser Dalgleish, principal investigator and assistant research professor at Harbor Branch. “Using intelligent, adaptive laser imaging and communication techniques with swarms of co-operating underwater robots could provide identification-quality underwater imagery in real time across much greater regions of seabed than current technology allows, and will therefore be vital for effectively classifying both military and environmental threats to our coastal regions in the future.”

For related information, go to www.isa.org/sensors.