Session: 05-04-01 CCUS and Underwater Development/ Utilization I

Submission Number: 180056

Wide-Area and Long-Term Ocean Monitoring System Using Marine Robotics Technologies 

This presentation outlines the status of implementation and prospects for the development of marine robotics survey technology, which is being implemented within The Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) Term 3: National Platform for Innovative Ocean Developments. From the perspective of wide-area marine environmental monitoring and seabed exploration, the utilization of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of autonomous movement is desirable. To operate AUVs efficiently and conduct wide-area monitoring, AUV cooperative swarm control technology, improvements of the fixed-point subsea observation platform “Edokko Mark-I”, and system integration incorporating the IoTization of deep-sea terminals are necessary.

Then, this research and development focus on wide-area ocean monitoring: 1) cooperative swarm control of multiple AUVs related with Edokko Mark-I, and 2) deep-sea terminals that also target AUV docking for long-term AUV operation. Both technologies are planned to be developed in phases through 2027, to realize social implementation of the systems through testing and improvement at each stage. Promoting IoT of the observation system and improving various devices, the SIP project will develop a system that can rapidly acquire large volumes of underwater observation data. Moreover, the project will verify the entire system in actual waters, including the design and prototyping of a small, low-cost AUV that will stimulate new social needs.

Through these technological developments, the project aims to conserve the marine environment and foster marine industries while promoting collaboration with universities and private companies. This presentation outlines the current status of technological development being conducted within the program and provides an overview of future plans and prospects.

Presenting Author: Toshifumi Fujiwara National Maritime Research Institute

Presenting Author Biography: Dr Toshifumi Fujiwara is a Managing Director for Research Affairs, National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI), National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology, Japan. He received a Bachelor of Engineering Degree with honors, 1992, Master of Engineering Degree, 1994 from Osaka Prefecture University and Ph.D. from the same university in 2006. He stayed in the Ship Science, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, UK, in 2003-2004 as a Senior Research Fellow. He had belonged to the Ship Dynamics Division, Ocean Engineering Department etc. Now he mainly engages in ocean technology research works, especially on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

Authors:

Toshifumi Fujiwara National Maritime Research Institute
Kangsoo Kim National Maritime Research Institute
Masahiko Sasano National Maritime Research Institute
Akihiro Okamoto National Maritime Research Institute
Shogo Inaba National Maritime Research Institute
Takumi Sato National Maritime Research Institute
Kanako Kobatake National Maritime Research Institute
Tadanori Takimoto National Maritime Research Institute
Sotaro Masanobu National Maritime Research Institute
Fumitaka Sugimoto Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Hiroyuki Yamamoto Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Eijiro Ohashi FullDepth Co., Ltd.
Toshihiro Maki Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo