Office of Coast Survey

Rob DownsCoast Survey AUV Project Manager

Board of HydrographersFebruary 19, 2014

AUV Operations on Ferdinand R. HasslerAUV Operations on Ferdinand R. Hassler

Office of Coast Survey

Operational ConceptOperational Concept• Force multiplier

• Multiple Bathymetric Mapping AUVs deployed from NOAA hydrographic survey vessels to increase data acquisition capabilities.

Functional RequirementsFunctional Requirements• Operating Platforms – NOAA Hydrographic Survey Vessels (HASSLER)• Operating Environment – Ports, harbors, and coastal areas• Operating Mode – Fully Autonomous or monitored

Data RequirementsData Requirements• Data must conform to standards in NOAA standards.• Data must be compatible with current data processing pipeline.

Operational RequirementsOperational Requirements• Shipboard infrastructure and personnel must be able to safely and effectively

support AUV operations.• The AUV must demonstrate a worthwhile benefit to efficient survey ops.• Support agreement must be in place between OCS, OMAO, and FH prior to

transition.

Bathymetric Mapping AUV Project

Office of Coast Survey

REMUS-600 AUV• LOA – 140 in• Diameter – 12.75 in• Weight in Air – 668 lbs• Max Depth – 300M (Limited by sonar transducers)• Endurance – >20 hours @ 4 knots• Navigation –

• Honeywell HG9900 IMU• RDI 600KHz DVL• L1/L2 GPS• NavP Software

• Communications• WHOI Acoustic Micro-Modem• Iridium • Wireless and Wired Ethernet

• Sensors• Kongsberg EM3002 Multibeam Sonar

(300KHz)• Neil Brown CT Sensor• Obstacle Avoidance Sonar (675 KHz)• Paroscientific Depth Sensor

REMUS-600 Specs

Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler Operations

Pier-Side Mock-Up Drills (Dec 2012)Pier-Side Mock-Up Drills (Dec 2012)

Underway Testing (Aug-Sep 2013)Underway Testing (Aug-Sep 2013)• Launch & Recovery Drills (Pier-side and

Underway)• Ten days integrated survey operations

Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler Overnight Operations

Expected BenefitsExpected Benefits• Maximize AUV mission time• Minimize interruption to ship ops

(One launch and recovery per day)• Launch & Recovery during daylight• Mission Prep and PMA during normal

workday• Less vessel traffic overnight• AUV much more visible on surface

(Strobe visible over 1NM away)

LimitationsLimitations• Mission Prep and PMA must be performed

by watch standers.• Significant faults would require nighttime

recovery.

Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler Lessons Learned

Launch & RecoveryLaunch & Recovery• Simplified rigging proved most effective.• Sea State limits same as small boat operations.

(Tested up to 4’)• LARS would improve safety & efficiency.

CommunicationsCommunications• WiFi

• Up to 1000M (500M typical)• Limited during recovery

• ACCOMS observed to 1600M• Iridium proved robust and essential

EnduranceEndurance• Average Battery consumption 4% per hour.• Multiple overnight missions (Up to 16 hours)

Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler Lessons Learned

System ReliabilitySystem Reliability• Navigation system integration issues

increased mission duration and limited operations.

• AUV Team Lead was occupied full-time resolving system and operational issues.

Fault Response & RecoveryFault Response & Recovery• AUV fault response is Mission Abort

• AUV adrift on surface.• Non-critical faults can be addressed without

recovering the AUV.

Possible Gains to Operational EfficiencyPossible Gains to Operational Efficiency• Remote launch & recovery.• Item investigation and gap coverage.

Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler Operational Challenges

Shipboard Shipboard InfrastructureInfrastructure

StaffingStaffing

EfficiencyEfficiency

Office of Coast Survey

Improving Risk ManagementImproving Risk Management

System ReliabilitySystem Reliability

Operations & Maintenance Operations & Maintenance Life Cycle CostLife Cycle Cost

Navigation RulesNavigation Rules

Overarching Challenges

Office of Coast Survey