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Deep-sea fascinationAutonomous underwater vehicles explore the ocean floor
The deep sea has long fascinated people. Researchers, navies and utility companies in particular are keen to explore this vast unknown. The goal is to create a comprehensive map of the deep sea.
We still know very little about the seafloor. It is a hostile environment for humans. Building and deploying manned submarines therefore involves a great deal of effort. The era of autonomy will change all of that. Using autonomous underwater vehicles like the Seacat makes it much easier to collect precise data from the seafloor.
The reason is that crewed submarines have to meet stringent safety requirements to protect those on board and also require life-support systems, including an oxygen supply. “These are all complex components that take up valuable space on board and add to the cost,” Marbach explains.
Endurance for a major mission
The SeaCat is a moderately sized vehicle that can operate autonomously underwater for more than 24 hours. This represents a major advance in the exploration of the ocean floor. During each dive, the underwater vehicle can quite literally bring vast amounts of data about the deep sea to light.
But how does the SeaCat know what its mission is? Before the compact underwater vehicle begins its dive, it is - to put it simple - provided with a kind of route plan. In other words, the SeaCat is programmed in advance to perform a specific task, which it can then carry out independently to a depth of 600 meters.
The SeaCat autonomous underwater vehicle is being launched for an unmanned expedition. It collects precise data and aids in the exploration of the seafloor.
Accurate seabed data supports the planning of offshore wind farms and power lines. SeaCat provides important information on sediments and environmental conditions for this purpose.
How the SeaCat supports the expansion of renewable energy
At first glance, energy generation is not an area typically associated with autonomous underwater vehicles such as the SeaCat - especially as the SeaCat is primarily used for surveying. However, the autonomous vehicle can provide valuable information for the construction of intercontinental power cables and gas pipelines. It can analyze the water column and provide insights into its composition as well as the sediments on the ocean floor.
The SeaCat can therefore identify which routes across the ocean floor are best suited for laying cables and pipelines. Can the seabed at a particular location be worked using the available equipment? What environmental conditions prevail at the respective depth, and what properties would the cables or pipelines need in order to withstand them?
How an autonomous underwater vehicle is revolutionizing exploration of the ocean floor
To provide researchers with these highly sought-after insights, the experts at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, a TKMS company, have developed an underwater vehicle capable of conducting uncrewed expeditions in the deep sea: the SeaCat autonomous underwater vehicle.
A milestone for underwater archaeology
The SeaCat is used in many fascinating fields. One of them is underwater archaeology, as demonstrated by the archaeological site in Lake Arendsee in Saxony-Anhalt. In 2003, a recreational diver discovered historic boats and an unidentified structure in the lake.
The finds were later revealed to be evidence from different periods in the history of Lake Arendsee and its use by humans. They included several late medieval boats and a Neolithic fish weir. Underwater finds that are partially covered by sediment are particularly difficult to access. Thanks to its ability to analyze layers of sediment, the SeaCat played a key role in investigating these finds.
A wealth of technology in a compact underwater vehicle
The SeaCat maps the ocean floor using sonar data. A high-frequency multibeam echosounder and a camera mounted on a rotating unit enable the detailed mapping of vertical structures, for example. The autonomous underwater vehicle features an extensive range of technical equipment and customized applications to meet a wide variety of requirements.
It remains to be seen what other secrets lie hidden beneath the water. One thing is clear, however: Whether used for commercial, archaeological or military projects, the SeaCat is revolutionizing the way people work and will continue to provide us with increasingly precise information about the deep sea.