“SEARCHER” – Sea Remote Controlled Hydrographic Explorer and Recorder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water-Power Technologies Office Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) Program plans to advance MHK technologies to capture energy from the nation’s oceans and rivers. To evaluate the environmental impacts of MHK installations, low cost and user-friendly monitoring tools and methodologies are sought. However, it is necessary to determine the effects in the vicinity of the devices as well as changes to the sea floor, to assess whether other monitoring should be triggered. Current methods such as ship-based tools for mapping the seabed around MHK installations are expensive and logistically challenging. These are also time consuming and expensive. To address the DOE recommendations, Hydronalix Inc., in collaboration with Oregon State University (OSU) proposes a nimble, remote-controlled robotic vehicle SEARCHER – Sea Remote Controlled Hydrographic Explorer and Recorder to map the seafloor and habitats to assess the effects of MHK installations. The robotic devices will be based on Hydronalix’s robotic rescue devices. The demonstration of this vehicle will first be conducted in inland waters in Arizona and then deployed on the open coast of Oregon where wave energy devices are expected to be deployed. The initial experiments will be conducted in Arizona, followed by similar experiments in Oregon, that will include cameras and other suitable sensors. The automated monitoring and data collection using the SEARCHER vehicle described in this proposal will enable the evaluation of the effects of energy extraction using MHK wave energy devices that could establish the ecological effects of energy extraction. Resulting data will offer new insights into the correlation between the operation of MHK devices and energy extraction in specific locations around the country; such information will be of critical use to operators of MHK devices, department of energy, local communities and other stakeholders. Since these monitoring techniques will not result in any physical interaction with the marine organisms or disturbing them, such changes can be monitored any day or time or season. Additionally, the collaborative partnership in this project will provide opportunities for students, who will conduct pioneering research on their way to stimulating careers.