Water environment monitoring with an autonomous unmanned surface vessel

Abstract

The paper discusses the use of catamaran-type ultra-small unmanned vessels for studying lakes,rivers and different offshore areas. The key features of a surface vessel designed in Irkutsk Technical University are presented. The article describes major systems of the vessel and concepts of autonomous functioning and remote control. The apparatus can fulfil automatically mapping, searching of sunken objects, hydroacoustic scanning of bottom relief and underwater video recording without the use of additional boats. It is capable to inspect 100 linear kilometers (∼15 km2)of the water area per one day. The use of solar panels and Li-ion batteries charged during a singlesunny day allows it to work for several days without use of any external sources of energy for recharging. All systems have been checked and debugged in the laboratory and the designed vessel was tested in Irkutsk reservoir. The field testing showed that the error of coordinates determining was within 2 meters. The planned and actual routes almost coincided with an accuracy better than 3 meters.