Abstract
The rapid development of autonomous systems and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) create new opportunities for maritime activities. Existing autonomous systems are becoming more powerful and utilise the capabilities of several types of devices such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) – sometimes referred as Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) –, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), moored and drifting systems and, recently emerging, autonomous vessels. Their importance in providing new services in maritime environments is undeniable and the opportunity for coordinated and interconnected operations is clear. However, continuous wide integration of various technologies in maritime environments still faces many challenges. Operations may take place in remote locations, so that dependence on third-party infrastructures such as satellite communication or terrestrial communication systems must be expected. The reliability, performance, availability, and cost of such systems are important issues that need to be tackled. This work reviews the major advancements on state-of-the-art autonomous maritime vehicles and systems, which are used in several different scenarios, from scientific research to transportation. Moreover, the paper highlights how available technologies can be composed in order to efficiently and effectively operate in maritime environments. Highlights of the trade-off between autonomy and communication requirements are provided and followed by an overview of promising communication and networking technologies that could encourage the integration of autonomous systems in maritime scenarios.
Highlights
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, being closely tied with life on Earth and climate changes
Many systems utilise several of these assets, for activities ranging from military operations, oceanographic research, to offshore marine operations with industrial and shipping companies
Gliders are long-endurance underwater vehicles, which can be equipped with a mechanical propulsion system, main moving force is generated by relocation of centre-of-balance and buoyancy causing water to wash wings and generate force that causes the vehicle to move forward [55]
Summary
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, being closely tied with life on Earth and climate changes. In addition to the direct impact on the Earth’s biosphere [1], the oceans are crucial for freight transportation among other sectors of economic value such as fishing, petroleum, minerals and tourism [2]. Various types of manned and unmanned vehicles, as well as infrastructures such as oil platforms, fish farms, buoys and sensor systems, rely on various Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and currently conduct operations in oceans and seas across the world. Despite the rapid development of ICT and autonomous systems in specific scenarios, their continuous wide integration in maritime environments still faces many challenges. This work analyses current challenges and opportunities for autonomous maritime operations and their strict dependence on networking and communication technologies. The following contributions are provided: 1. Review of state-of-the-art autonomous marine systems and scenarios
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