The UK’s New Subsea Trials Site: A Game Changer for Marine Autonomy
The recent unveiling of the Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS) project in Plymouth represents a significant leap forward in the realm of marine technology. This new subsea trials site has garnered attention for its innovative multi-robot demonstration, which showcased the potential to accelerate marine autonomy and enhance ocean sensing capabilities. With modern underwater testing infrastructure, the SSCS project aims to invite industry and research partners for future trials, positioning itself as a critical hub for marine innovations.
Collaboration Among Leaders in Marine Technology
The SSCS project is part of Smart Sound Plymouth, spearheaded by the University of Plymouth in collaboration with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). During the demonstration, various platforms contributed to the event — notably teams from ACUA Ocean, ecoSUB Robotics, Seaber, and Sonardyne. The event highlighted the capabilities of both surface and subsurface vehicles, illustrating a unique collaborative environment geared toward innovation in marine autonomy.
Professor James Fishwick, Head of Innovation at Smart Sound Plymouth, remarked on the project’s value: “Smart Sound Plymouth is going from strength to strength. The addition of the subsurface network enables even greater integration between platforms and supports our state-of-the-art testing capabilities for autonomous vehicles and advanced technologies.” His words reflect a growing recognition of Plymouth’s established reputation in the marine tech landscape.
Advanced Infrastructure and Technology
A focal point of the SSCS initiative is its sophisticated seabed node array. This infrastructure is designed for absolute positioning and communication, leveraging passive ultra-short baseline (USBL) technology for testing underwater systems in a highly characterized environment. The all-day demonstration showcased both the University of Plymouth’s Seaber autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and ecoSUB’s AUV navigating simultaneously, utilizing this seabed array to showcase real-time data collection capabilities.
Iain Vincent, Director & General Manager at ecoSUB Robotics, emphasized the project’s importance for industry: “Smart Sound and the SSCS environment has already been an extremely useful resource for ecoSUB Robotics. This technology testing platform offers easy access to open water and a supportive community, making it an attractive venue for innovation.”
Real-Time Data and the Future of Ocean Observations
The infrastructure provided by Sonardyne significantly enhances the Smart Sound Plymouth ecosystem. The seabed node array allows for seamless communication and positioning, crucial for effective underwater operations. During the demonstration, data was wirelessly harvested from a permanently deployed acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), reinforcing the importance of real-time data sharing. This capability is essential for developing advanced oceanographic models that contribute to climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
Dr. Lilian Lieber, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, elaborated on the transformative potential of the SSCS project: “SSCS provides a unique opportunity to test new ocean observing technologies… it helps turn ocean data into actionable intelligence.”
Engaging Stakeholders Across Borders
The significance of this pioneering project has not gone unnoticed. The demonstration attracted visitors from various sectors, including military, science, and commercial industries, not only from the UK but also from North America and Asia. Geraint West, Business Development Advisor at Sonardyne, pointed out, “This ability to test and accelerate marine autonomous system innovation is a real boost for Plymouth.”
The event featured interactive live feeds, allowing participants to observe tracking and data telemetry directly from the remote operations centre at PML’s campus. This inclusive approach underscores the potential for continuing partnerships and collaborative efforts in the marine technology space.
Opportunities for Future Collaboration
As the SSCS project seeks additional research and development partners, there’s a call for interested parties to engage in trials involving subsea vehicle operations or underwater data telemetry. Aaron Barrett, a lecturer in Autonomy at the University of Plymouth, is the point of contact for those looking to explore these new opportunities.
John Hunnibell, Chief Product Officer at ACUA Ocean, summarized the event’s success, stating, “This demonstration provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the mission utility of our USV Pioneer.” The collaboration across companies and institutions demonstrates the strength of Plymouth’s marine technology ecosystem and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of ocean exploration and autonomous systems.