Kongsberg Maritime, a world leader in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) development and manufacture, has teamed up with Scottish communications technology company Wireless Fibre Systems (WFS) to develop a wireless system for locating and communicating with AUVs in ice conditions.
Called TILACSys (Through Ice Location and Communication System), the project has received investment from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board and the Research Council of Norway and will run for 24 months with the objective to deliver a demonstrator system that will be the first of its kind in the world.
“Adapting our AUVs to extensive, large area mapping of under-ice areas is a key strategy for us,” said Bjorn Jalving, Kongsberg Maritime Subsea AUV department vice-president.
“We are excited to be working with WFS to equip the Hugin 1000 AUV with a through-ice location and communication system. The reduced risk of loss of the vehicle will increase the use of AUVs and expand our knowledge of the virtually unexplored underwater Arctic environment.”
In polar regions, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) offer the advantage of being able to explore beneath the ice, but today, sub-ice AUV operations are seldom carried out because of the risk of losing the vehicle.
Traditionally, underwater connections have been made with AUVs via subsea umbilicals which, in polar regions, are not an option for establishing communications because of the obstacle caused by the ice.
Conventional underwater wireless (acoustic) technology will not penetrate ice and, according to WFS, the newly emerging underwater free-space optical systems are not an option either as a light beam will reflect off the surface of the ice. Due to the ice cap, surfacing for satellite communication is not an option.
The duo say that the TILACSys through-ice communications system will enable a surface vessel, a helicopter or an unmanned aerial vehicle to locate and communicate with an AUV operating beneath ice.
The system is seen as a key component for reducing risk during under-ice AUV operations, which have the potential to increase human knowledge about topography, oceanography, marine life and marine systems in Arctic areas.
Another pressure forcing the pace of technology development is the hunt for oil&gas resources in polar regions, with emphasis on the Arctic first.
Iain Gray, from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board, said: “Taking broadband technology into these remote and otherwise inaccessible locations is a really exciting enterprise. We are pleased to have the opportunity to invest in such an innovative project.”
Brendan Hyland, CEO of WFS, added: “This project supports Europe’s position in the world as a technological and commercial leader in the field of marine engineering, offshore operations and telecommunications.
“Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to put European research at the forefront of Arctic exploration. We are excited about the collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime and the opportunity to deliver the world’s first through-ice location and communication system onboard a world-class AUV platform.
“WFS has grown significantly in the last two years and our Seatext and Seatooth products have started a revolution in oceanography, subsea operations, environmental monitoring and naval communications. This project is the next step in applying those technologies.”
WFS is headquartered in Livingston and develops underwater electronic communications, sensing and navigation technology, much of it defence-orientated. The firm is a significant success story for Scotland and has filed more than 50 patent applications in Europe and the US and its products are revolutionising subsea and underground communications for the defence, offshore and environmental industries.
WFS is privately owned and has satellite offices in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Houston, Texas, and Washington DC.
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