Collaborative Sensing using Unmanned Underwater Vehicles in a Mesh Network

To support US Special Operations Command’s Next Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Situational Awareness applied research goals, Certus proposes the deployment of multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in a meshed configuration to enable collaborative autonomous sensing on littoral targets of strategic interest. In order to develop this capability, a number of technologies would have to be integrated; however many of the individual components that comprise the features of this capability already exist and are mature today. AUVs employing underwater sensing packages (LiDAR, SONAR, etc) have been in existence for some time and have become smaller and relatively less expensive in recent years. Additionally, modern AUVs are currently deployed with the necessary edge processing devices to enable AI/ML based sensing and detection as well as conditional autonomous responses that enable autonomously triggered follow-on actions. Hydroacoustic communications systems have equally matured into small, deployable, low power devices enabling AUVs to communicate to each other as well as to other vessel-based communications platforms. AUV guidance and navigation have also matured with many viable non-GPS based solutions to support operating in denied or restrictive environments. Certus has identified and is proposing a SOF-peculiar model and algorithm development to support SOCOM use cases for collaborative sensing on targets of potential interest; autonomous collaborative responses from multiple deployed AUV platforms that are specific to SOF missions; the simulation and data operations environments to support the collection, storage, and processing of live data as well as the creation of simulated data in order to train and test SOF-peculiar models. Certus believes we can also add unique value to these digital infrastructure solutions by integrating, developing, and testing them with commercially procured AUVs functioning in a meshed configuration at the Certus Group Maritime IoT Range at the Port of Tampa. Fielding these solutions in an active port environment that is a short drive from SOCOM HQ will add to the solution’s effectiveness by incorporating real active AUVs, other commercial vessel traffic, and an urban maritime port environment into the modeling and algorithm development process. The proximity to SOCOM will also enable rapid feedback on demonstrations due to the proximity to a valuable user community there. Special Operations Forces lack some of the key data, digital, and physical infrastructure needed to field collaborative sensing AUVs against a near peer competitor in the Strategic Competition environment. Certus proposes the creation of that infrastructure to support near term problems such as Underwater Collaborative AUV sensing but also the creation of other SOF specific algorithms and models that enable small, autonomous platforms to be fielded by SOF Warriors supporting Strategic Competition missions.