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AUVs for research: Underwater drones are being used for marine research

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) demonstrate the massive potential to become independent and sustainable researchers.

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Quantumrun Foresight
December 20, 2022

Insight summary

Drones have been utilized in lakes and oceans since the 1950s, but developments in material sciences and artificial intelligence (AI) have drastically improved these machines’ potential for marine and defense research. These advancements include improved payload offerings, high-definition low-light cameras, enhanced seabed detection, and more advanced sensors. The long-term implications of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) could include developed nations investing in AUV fleets for defense and better equipment for marine research.

AUVs for research context

To manage the ocean effectively, governments need integrated and sustainable observation systems. These systems depend on submersible tools that enable researchers to understand ocean processes and the impacts human activities have on them. Autonomous underwater vehicles are surface and subsurface self-driving vehicles that provide high visual resolution and data collection.

Some underwater vehicles need to stay connected to an external source or be remote-operated, but others are becoming more self-reliant. As of 2022, some AUVs can carry various payloads and have underwater cameras, sonars, or even sensors that can take in particles and chemicals. These emerging capabilities are driving the valuation of the AUV market to USD $3.71 billion by 2026, according to research firm Research and Markets.

The enhanced capabilities of AUVs are also driving demand for their application in the search and rescue sector, as well as for seabed mapping, and coastal protection, intelligence, and surveillance applications. Additionally, AUVs have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of operations at sea and provide offshore data acquisition services. These drones will also become a desirable option for militaries wanting to improve their intelligent offensive and defensive underwater capabilities, network infrastructure, and port security.

Disruptive impact

In 2022, France-based marine tech company Notilo Plus launched an updated version of its 2019 AUV called Seasam. The drone included a high-definition video camera designed to follow and record footage of a scuba diver. It used acoustic and computer vision technologies for guidance. From dozens of meters away, the drone can detect acoustic signals from a control unit that the user is carrying. This feature makes finding a person possible at night or in other low-visibility conditions.

Additionally, Seasam is equipped with a long, reeled communications cable that allows it to be remotely operated from the surface. The user then utilizes a tablet-equipped handheld remote to steer it and view its real-time video. The drone can be instructed to keep targets in its viewfinder using the same visual recognition technology it uses to follow divers. As it moves, it can focus on ship hull sections, dock pilings, or other underwater structures.

Meanwhile, startup Anduril, which previously focused on above-ground drones, bought Dive Technologies, a startup specializing in AUVs, in 2022. The drone (called DIVE-LD) can be used for military purposes, like anti-submarine warfare and combat zone awareness. It is also practical for research, such as mapping seabeds and oceanographic sensing.

By utilizing large-scale 3D printing and novel architecture, Dive can quickly create the DIVE-LD at a fraction of the cost. Anduril plans to include its Lattice operating system autonomy software in the subsequent iterations. This development can make it easier for oceanographers to launch large fleets of AUVs for research and monitoring.

Implications of AUVs for research

Wider implications of AUVs for research may include:

Developed nations heavily investing in building AUV fleets for military and climate change research purposes.

AUVs being used to monitor sea levels, salinity, and the amount of oxygen and carbon available in the oceans.

Marine life conservation organizations using AUVs to observe pods and mammal vocalizations, particularly endangered species.

AUVs being used for ocean modeling to build virtual reality digital twins of the world’s oceans.

Increased investments in AUV technology, including data management and visualization software.

AUVs facilitating precise seabed mapping, enhancing the accuracy of undersea infrastructure planning for sectors like telecommunication and oil exploration.