ASV Operations.pdf

The Bathymetric Explorer and Navigator (BEN), a "C-Worker 4" model ASV, was deployed aboard the NOAA SHIP Fairweather in July 2018 for 10 days of survey above the Arctic Circle. The ASV is equipped with a Kongsberg EM2040P multibeam echo-sounder, AML Oceanographic sound speed probe, and Applanix POS/MV v5 inertially aided GPS. The vehicle has a top speed of 5.5 knots, maximum endurance of 16 hours, and is powered by a 30 HP Yanmar diesel with jet propulsion.

Logistics and Deployment

The ASV was shipped to US Coast Guard Station Kodiak, Alaska, where it was loaded aboard the Fairweather during a port call. The vehicle was stored on the aft fantail, beneath the ship's A-frame, and deployed from the ship's centrally mounted boom crane over the port side. The ASV's antenna mast and operator's telemetry box were installed atop the Fairweather's stack, with RF cables kept relatively short to prevent losses.

Operations and Findings

The ASV was operated from a station set up within the ship's survey processing area, with four laptops and monitors used to interface with the vehicle's systems. The ASV was deployed in calm seas, with no more than 3 ft waves and little swell, due to the limitations of the boom crane. The operations aimed to build and test new operational models, introduce the crew to ASV operations, and identify shortcomings in the ASV's mission planning interfaces, operator awareness, navigation capability, data collection, and processing.

Key Takeaways

The ASV demonstrated increased efficiency, safety, data quality, and endurance compared to traditional manned launches.
The collaborative endeavor between NOAA and the University of New Hampshire's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping successfully integrated the ASV into the Fairweather's survey operations.
The ASV's storage location on the aft fantail and deployment from the boom crane presented some limitations, but alternative storage locations and deployment methods were identified.
The operations highlighted the need for further development and testing of the ASV's systems, particularly in regards to mission planning interfaces, operator awareness, and navigation capability.