Hayle Harbour Authority has partnered with Unmanned Survey Solutions (USS) to help with the development of robotic vessels in performing hydrographic surveys in Hayle Harbour in west Cornwall.
The aim is to monitor the effects of dredging, sluicing, and periodic natural changes to the depths of the harbour in fulfillment of its conservancy requirements, and ensure safe operation to harbour users.
During the trials, the robotic vessels will collect hydrographic data, which the harbour authority will then utilise to update its charts.
Hayle Harbour Authority and USS intend to map the harbour every three months throughout 2020 to gain detailed insights into how the harbour changes throughout the seasons.
Meanwhile, USS is developing larger unmanned surface vessels (USVs) that will be used to monitor dynamic changes to the entrance channel and the shallow outer sand bar over the next 12 months.
