A comparison of an unmanned survey vessel to manned vessels for nearshore tidal current and transport measurements

Offshore applications have largely been the focus of marine autonomous vehicles. Meant mostly for open ocean studies are the widely used autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), whose designs have limited the use of offshore applications in estuaries and coastal embayments . Here the authors discuss the development and testing of an automated unmanned boat for shallow water use for (1) current velocities using an acoustic Doppler current profiler, (2) bathymetry using an echo sounder, (3) seabed configuration using a side-scan sonar, or (4) shallow, sub-bottom stratigraphy using a chirp sonar. Results demonstrate the numerous advantages this automated boat (Auto-boat) possesses over manned survey vessels after 91 h and 453 km of total distance surveyed. The Auto-boat had the advantage in the accuracy of repeating a planned route continuously over at least a tidal cycle to resolve tidal and subtidal current velocity profiles, as an example. It provides capability of coverage of shallow areas close to shore, endurance, energy efficiency, and ease of operation.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.45.5.7
• Summary URL:
  http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mts/mtsj/2011/00000045/00000005/art00008
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1623789
• Authors:
  • Weeks, Eddie
  • Li, Chunyan
  • Roberts, Harry
  • Shaw, Richard F
  • Walker, Nan
• Publication Date: 2011-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 71-77
• Serial:
  • Marine Technology Society Journal
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Marine Technology Society
  • ISSN: 0025-3324
  • Serial URL: http://ingentaconnect.com/content/mts/mtsj

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Autonomous vehicle guidance; Coasts; Estuaries; Measurement; Survey vessels; Testing; Tidal currents; Underwater vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Autonomous underwater vehicles; Unmanned autonomous sailing craft
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01357047
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 16 2011 2:51PM