Drones show promise in speeding up communication with underwater robots
for ocean surveys

Date:
October 29, 2021
Source:
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
Summary:
Researchers have investigated the performance capability of
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a communication platform with
autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for ocean and seafloor
monitoring research.

Studies suggest that UAVs exhibit suitable communication performance
for underwater measurement up to approximately 1 km from the shore,
owing to their operation speed, robust hovering control, and
stability against sea-surface sway. Further studies are necessary
for more complicated applications.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
To conduct ocean surveys, sensors mounted on underwater robotic
devices are typically used in communication with sea-surface base
stations. Researchers from Japan have found a promising way to optimize
this underwater communication.


==========================================================================
In a study published this month in Remote Sensing, researchers from
The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science revealed that
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, show
promise as communication bases with robotic devices known as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for ocean surveys.

AUVs are commonly used for underwater survey missions and monitoring
the seafloor because they can obtain detailed seafloor images and
information. Sea- surface base stations are a necessary partner to the
AUVs to obtain absolute positions and real-time data because ocean water weakens the transmitted radio wave signals. However, these base stations
have low mobility and drift with sea disturbances. Thus, to optimize
this underwater communication, researchers at The University of Tokyo
Institute of Industrial Science aimed to address these limitations with
devices that would be more efficient, fast, and stable.

"Because sea-surface vehicles cannot efficiently achieve high-speed observations, we examined whether UAVs could be used as a base station for underwater communication with an AUV," explains lead author Yusuke Yokota.

"UAVs can travel at 50 km/h or more and they are not affected by
ocean currents or other perturbations, making them ideal candidates
for this application." To do this, the researchers first observed
whether the UAV could land on a sea surface and lift off to return to
its base. They then studied the underwater communication using two UAVs
(with one imitating an AUV) to find out the distance stability between
the hovering and underwater devices. Finally, the researchers examined
the sea-surface sway of a UAV used as a buoy.

"The results are very exciting," says Takumi Matsuda, second author
of the study. "The application of UAVs will reduce the cost of many
ocean observation operations." In addition to the distance stability
between the hovering and underwater devices, the UAV was functional as
a measurement buoy under wind speeds of 5-10 m/s and wave height of ~1 m.

"Our results suggest that because of their robust hovering
control, stability against sea-surface sway, and operation
speed, UAVs may be a suitable communication platform with
AUVs in ocean surveys up to a distance of approximately 1 km
from the shore," says Yokota. "However, further research is
necessary before we can carry out more complicated work with them." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Institute_of_Industrial_Science,_The_University_of_Tokyo.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Yusuke Yokota, Takumi Matsuda. Underwater Communication Using
UAVs to
Realize High-Speed AUV Deployment. Remote Sensing, 2021; 13 (20):
4173 DOI: 10.3390/rs13204173 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211029114014.htm

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