Louisiana-based Okeanus Science and Technology has taken delivery of a new autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) from Florida-based unmanned systems specialist SeaRobotics.
The 5.9-foot (1.8-metre) man-portable craft will be used for remote marine surveys. Its sensors include a sonar, an inertial navigation system with dual antennae, a radio, a sound velocity sensor, and a terrestrial mapping LIDAR.
SeaRobotics said the ASV was designed to streamline survey logistics and optimise data acquisition in shallow, inland, and coastal waters, making it adequate for bathymetric studies, habitat mapping, structure inspection, and search and rescue (SAR) missions.
