Scaling capabilities in maritime robotics

Abstract

The oceans are vast: they cover 71% of the Earth’s surface and play a key role in regulating our climate. They form 99%of the Earth’s liveable space, are home to 244,000 confirmed species, with scientists predicting that there are likely more than 2 million species in the oceans. The oceans hold significant resources of oil, gas and minerals, absorb 25% of atmospheric CO2 and with 50% of the global population living in coastal regions, fish supplying 16% of global protein intake and 90% of world trade handled by sea, the oceans and ocean processes influence all of us.Even though our very existence is coupled with the oceans and their functions, we have seen a 30% increase in ocean acidity since the industrial revolution, and increasing concerns of over fishing and stock depletion for the 3.5 billion people that depend on the ocean as their primary source of food. Yet despite the potential resources – and need for better understanding– less than 5% of the ocean floor has been explored. This is because the physics and chemistry of the ocean limits the reach of our sensors and the range and endurance of our platforms,making it one of the most challenging and unforgiving environments on our planet. When subject to such limitations,the only way to scale our capabilities is through the increased number, and autonomy of the platforms and sensors we putout to sea. Here, Maritime Robotic Systems provide unrivalled opportunities to explore and work in the oceans, improving both safety and reducing costs. They can act as our eyes and ears in places that are too dangerous or remote for humans to go, and can automate repetitive, or ‘boring’ tasks. The Maritime Robotics Laboratory (MRL) at the University of Southampton UK, is developing new technology and approaches to scale capabilities in marine robotics, by orders of magnitude. Our priority is to identify and remove the bottlenecks in the technology, enabling systems that can 1) go longer, 2) are smarter and 3) work together.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Nicholas Townsend: orcid.org/0000-0001-6996-3532

ORCID for Jonathan Downes: orcid.org/0000-0003-2027-4474

ORCID for Stephen Turnock: orcid.org/0000-0001-6288-0400

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