Automation is one of the major driving forces that is revolutionising labour across the planet. The 2017 McKinsey report on automation predicts that about a third of activities in 60% of occupations could be automated. Various marine industries have long been riding the wave of automation with underwater robots performing vital tasks that are too dangerous or simply impossible for humans.
Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) are another important piece in the automation trend, especially as these machines begin to play a bigger role in a growing number of ocean-based scientific and industrial sectors. This guide will go over the defining elements of an ASV, the brief history of this technology, how ASVs work, and how they are being applied today with an eye toward the future.
What are ASVs?
At its most basic, an ASV is a vessel that can operate on the surface of the water all on its own. ASVs are actually a form of USV or unmanned surface vehicle. As the name suggests, a USV is a vessel that can operate on the surface of the water without a crew on board.
The distinguishing factor between a USV and an ASV is that the latter can function completely without a human remotely operating it, hence “autonomous”. ASVs can still be monitored and taken control of remotely by human operators aboard another vessel or on land.
The ability of ASVs to carry out a variety of tasks with little to no input from a pilot at sea, even under changing conditions, makes them immensely useful tools. They offer more value than simple weather buoys, are much less resource-intensive and more flexible than larger, fully-manned research vessels.
Brief History of ASVs
The lineage of ASVs can be traced back to the USVs or remote-controlled minesweepers of World War II deployed by both Allied and Axis forces vying for naval supremacy. The actual technology that more closely resembles the ASVs of today did not see much development until the 90s.
One of the earliest ASVs was ARTEMIS, which was developed in 1993 under the MIT Sea Grant College Program. It was a scale replica of a fishing trawler and was used to collect bathymetry data in the Charles River in Boston, MA.
Major advancements in GPS, wireless data systems, and renewable energy have fast-tracked the progress in ASV tech, with the US Navy at the forefront.
How do ASVs Work?
Modern ASVs are generally propelled by renewable energy, such as solar, wind and wave power, with rechargeable batteries as backup sources. Utilising the forces of nature allows these robots to make nautical journeys that can cover thousands of miles and last for multiple months at speeds of around 3 to 8 knots. Some units, such as the UK-developed AutoNaut and the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider, have thrusters to aid in propulsion and manoeuvring.
ASVs are outfitted with a suite of sensors for data collection and communications systems for tracking and navigation. They can carry payloads of instruments ranging in the hundreds of kilos, from high-grade cameras to fish trackers to echo sounders. Safety features such as flare-shooting capabilities, return-to-home functions, and no-go area recognition can be found in the latest ASVs.
Compared to manned research vessels, ASVs are much smaller and sleeker. They are aerodynamic to be able to move through the changing ocean winds while efficiently expending energy. Their relatively compact size allows them to be stored, transported, towed and recovered by lorries and ships over land and sea.
The Saildrone, which made history when one unit completed a circumnavigation of Antarctica in 2019, is only 7 metres long with a 2.4-metre sail. The lone surviving drone from the three that were launched in January 2019 from New Zealand endured 15-metre-high waves, 128kph winds and crashing into an iceberg.
Because ASVs operate on the surface of the water, they pose a distinct problem compared to their underwater counterparts. These vessels have to account for other vessels, such as commercial ships in the vicinity, to avoid collisions. ASVs are, therefore, equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to ping other vessels of its position and other necessary data. Supplementary features—including active radar reflectors for radio wave verification, as well as nav lights and day markers for visual contact—ensure ASVs do not collide with other vessels.
What are ASVs used for?
ASVs have been in use for military and scientific purposes, as highlighted by naval forces around the world conducting minehunting operations and aquatic research institutions monitoring marine life.
Defence systems to secure maritime borders through surveillance and reconnaissance are reinforced with ASVs. Oceanographers study meteorological data gathered from ASVs to understand more about climate change. There is also a global effort to map all of Earth’s seafloor by 2030 using ASVs in the Seabed 2030 Project.
The offshore energy industry is no stranger to unmanned vehicles innovating and optimising jobs. Hydrographic surveys in inland and coastal waters through the use of ASVs have been proven to be time and cost-effective. ASVs have also shown promise surveying offshore areas such as the Bering Sea. It is only a matter of time until more medium to large-scale offshore survey operations are done via ASVs.
Commercial shipping is yet another sector teeming with opportunities for ASV technology. An autonomous boat successfully delivered a cargo of oysters across the North Sea in May 2019, making the trip from West Mersea in the UK to Ostend in Belgium and back. That it navigated its way through one of the busiest sea lanes in the world shows great potential for completely automated shipping in the future.
Lastly, public transportation over water may also soon see a change, thanks to ASVs. Rolls-Royce has developed technology for an autonomous passenger ferry in Finland, with the hopes that it would eventually lead to fully automated ships carrying people and cargo without an onboard crew.
ASVs in an Automated Future
Worries about automation leading to massive job loss is an understandable concern. A Pew Research Center survey had 48% of experts predicting significant job displacement for blue and white-collar work because of automation. However, 52% believe there will be more jobs created instead. Gartner shares a more positive outlook, predicting two million net-new jobs in 2025 created by AI.
Even without humans directly operating ASVs, there will still be a need for specialists that can remotely monitor and control ASVs and provide the programming necessary for ASVs to know exactly what they need to do. Much like how ROV pilots and technicians maintain key roles alongside their machines, the human element is going to be indispensable in overseeing ASV operations.
