Accelerating Maritime Autonomous Technology with a Robotics Vehicle Port (RPV)
Abstract
Autonomous underwater and surface vehicles are increasingly important technologies for oceanographic research and national security. This national need is recognized in recent reports from the US Navy, NSF, NOAA, White House, US Coast Guard, National Research Council, and others. Accelerating advancement in navigation, endurance, sensors, command and control, AI, machine learning and operational know-how in autonomous vehicles is critical to ensuring we have the platforms to answer fundamental scientific questions aboutclimate, weather, food security and basic oceanographic process and for ensuring US leadership in undersea warfare.The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is developing a Complex for Waterfront Access to Exploration and Research (CWATER), an advanced capability for access to the sea for oceanographic science and technology for the research, commercial, and national security communities. A key component of CWATER will be a robotics vehicle port (RVP), designed and purpose built to accelerate public and private sector collaboration supporting autonomous maritime vehicle technologies. The RVP will focus on the development, testing, commissioning, acceptance and deployment of autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, fulfilling the identified national need. The RPV will also provide a platform for academia and industry to advance innovation and serve as a classroom to educate the future ocean technology workforce.The proposed RPV will consist of floating platforms, gangways, in-water work areas, material handling systems, security systems and access to secure bandwidth, all to facilitate, incubate and accelerate the iterative processes required to advance vehicle technologies. The RPV will be incorporated into the overall CWATER plan for resilience and sustainability, a key consideration for access to sea in the face of climate change.The project team consists of a highly experienced PI, project manager and engineers. The team will benefit from the advice and input from a working group of subject matter experts to ensure the RPV meets the needs of the user community well into the future.The project schedule is 4 years, with engineering and procurement planned for years 1 and 2, construction in year 3 and testing, commissioning and acceptance for year 4.Approved for public release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 24, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512087
Entities
People
- Robert Munier
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution