Design of an Autonomous, Green Powered, Mobile Coastal Monitor

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT: The mobile coastal monitor project is designed to prove out the research done in Phase I using a Proof of Concept demonstration craft. The Proof of Concept demonstrator will be a geometrically scaled version of the craft designed during Phase I. The Phase I craft, the Advanced Coastal Monitor (ACM) was designed to use state-of-the-art green power supplies and apply them as the propulsion and sensor power source for a highly efficient surface platform. The platform was equipped with a modular sensor bay that is capable of housing a wide variety of atmospheric, air/sea interface, and sub-surface sensors suitable for a wide range of sensing operations from benthic and flora/fauna surveying, to pollutant mapping, to calibration and validation of space borne optical sensors. The platform incorporated the latest unmanned vessel controls that conform to current Collision Regulations (COLREGS) and obstacle (surface and sub-surface) avoidance technology. The ACM was a clean sheet design as current autonomous surface vehicles either do not run on green power, or smaller battery, sail, or wave powered vehicles do not have the appropriate COLREGS / collision avoidance capability.SUMMARY OF ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Our anticipated results will include the successful testing of the Proof of Concept demonstration craft including the design of the modular sensor bay. The platform will be autonomous and powered by a green power supply(ies). This design will be suitable to take into contract and detail design cycles to commercialize in Phase III