Unmanned launch and recovery of AUVs will secure more data
Erik T. Sollesnes.
Published at: useaoceandata.com
Date: 13.01.22
USEA Ocean Data´s proprietary uLARS™ - unmanned Launch And Recovery System - combined with the use of a USV as a support vessel, bridges the gap between the two systems and allows the AUV to be charged with data transfer or recovered to the deck of the USV.
The uLARS™ system consists of two parts, one part above water, on the USV deck, and one part under water. An AUV will dock to the underwater part of the uLARS™ while submerged, this allows the system to operate even in challenging weather.
The underwater part of the uLARS™ system has been under development by USEA and partners for the last year. In June 2021 an AUV was docked to the USEA uLARS™ under water at speed. It was tested and proved that the uLARS™ can catch and release the AUV multiple times, validating the USEA uLARS™concept. The AUV has been locked to, charged, and received mission updates through the uLARS™ system.
With this innovation our aim is to secure more data for our customers, and make survey operations completely unmanned, saving cost and removing the risk to humans.