DIVING & UNDERWATER SERVICES
25 USBL SYSTEM INTEGRATIONS German ROV manufacturer Mariscope Meerestechnik’s recent delivery of an applied acoustics Alpha USBL system marks a significant milestone in their partnership with applied acoustics and the aae technologies group This delivery is the 25th such system that Mariscope have acquired for integration into their range of subsea vehicles. Established in 1994 by Christian Haag, Mariscope has become a leading name in the field of ocean robotics and like aae technologies, proudly promotes its independence and flexibility. In a relationship spanning several years, aae technologies and Mariscope have developed a good understanding of each other’s businesses, enabling the continual and seamless supply of appropriate USBL systems for Mariscope’s engineers to incorporate into the ROV’s at factory level. The bulk of these systems have been shipped to Mariscope’s South American subsidiary, Mariscope Ingenieria based in Puerto Montt, Chile, in support of the region’s burgeoning aquaculture industry, an industry that relies heavily on ROV intervention for the inspection and cleaning of salmon enclosures and their mooring lines. USBL tracking is a critical feature of these inspections as it gives the operators and service providers real time positional data of the vehicles as they carry out their surveillance.
8 Mariscope has become a leading name in the field of ocean robotics
Explore an ancient shipwreck Innovative technology is enabling keen historians to virtually explore the 2500-year-old Peristera shipwreck. The prototype uNdersea visiOn sUrveillance System (NOUS) offers real-time video footage of the wooden vessel, which sank in the late 5th century BC off the Greek island of Alonnisos in the Aegean Sea. NOUS relies on MacArtney’s underwater pluggable electrical SubConn connectors for the steady performance of the underwater camera, video and lighting systems installed onsite. Hans-Jørgen Hansen, sales director, ocean science, at MacArtney, said: “We, at MacArtney, are extremely pleased to be able to help protect a site of cultural heritage. This solution gives the entire world access to see and to follow - but not to touch.” Continuous monitoring NOUS is capable of continually monitoring an underwater area of interest using artificial intelligence (AI). This eliminates the need for a human operator to perform tasks like object detection, image classification, etc. The system works on a machine-learned algorithm that can recognise any intruder and send an alarm. It provides real-time video of the wreck site, streamed via five underwater cameras. Other features of the prototype, powered by solar energy, include recognition
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8 NOUS offers real-time video footage of the Peristera shipwreck
software and luminosity-triggered lens wipers to unclog debris. NOUS is the brainchild of Dr George Papalambrou (professor of power propulsion at the National Technical University of Athens); Kostas Katsioulis (dive officer/diver training, information technology); and Vasilis Mentogiannis (engineer/commercial diver)..
Robot experts wanted Underwater robotic technology experts will soon be able to share their knowledge. The call for speakers is now open for Subsea UK’s Underwater Robotics conference in October.
Abstracts are being sought across topics including energy transition and net zero targets, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, remote communications and operations, survey and inspection technology and the latest developments in underwater vehicles, navigation systems, data acquisition and analytics which could have cross-sector applications. Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK, said: “The aim of this event is to uncover the latest developments in underwater technologies, particularly those which have applications in multiple sectors, get to grips with the challenges and demonstrate the opportunities around the use of robotics in accelerating solutions that will promote digitisation.” How will the autonomous future look? Broadcast from the Subsea UK studio in Aberdeen on 5 and 6 October 2021, the event will demonstrate the latest advances in underwater robotic technology and explore the opportunities and challenges of an autonomous future. It will bring together technical and operational experts from a range of sectors across the blue economy, including defence, aquaculture, marine science and offshore energy. 8 The deadline for speaker submissions is 24 August.
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