The scene
The SMAUG project was conceived to address current challenges in the maritime environment offering solutions to improve and enhance the security of ports and their entrance routes.
More precisely, SMAUG strives to develop a solution that meets the constantly evolving needs of both legal and illegal surveillance in the maritime environment by utilizing a variety of cutting-edge methods. By detecting inefficiencies, this novel and inventive method of maritime surveillance will address the issue of illicit exploitation and enable the optimization of legal operations. In order to accomplish this, SMAUG concentrates on developing the infrastructure and tools to combat the new techniques used for illegal activities in the port.
The challenge
Traditional techniques involve a lot of human labor and are usually slow when it comes to inspecting infrastructure and vessels for potential threats. Furthermore, early identification of questionable objects frequently results in false alarms. This verification procedure is currently performed manually with crewed pilot boats which are costly and labour intensive. To address this issue, SMAUG will deploy uncrewed underwater, surface and aerial vehicles to inspect potential threats remotely and rapidly. Once a potential threat has been identified, SMAUG will have the capability to deploy a Remotely operated underwater inspection ROV from an uncrewed surface vessel, all without the need for personal to leave a control room.
Does it sound ideal? Let’s unveil the sequence of events that will occur.
The SMAUG tech solution
Step by step the USV ‘s journey:
- The surface vessel will leave the docking point automatically, detaching without human intervention.
- The surface vessel will navigate semi autonomously to the inspection point of interest (automation level 2-3).
- The ship will be scanned for potential threats using an underwater imaging sonar
- An underwater inspection robot will be remotely deployed to inspect any suspicious objects in more detail
Lemvos, SMAUG’s consortium partner and leader of Work Package 5 (Smart Integration of Data sources) is bringing to the project a cutting edge USV (Uncrewed Surface Vessel) which will be also utilized and adapted accordingly to fit the SMAUG project pilots. Lemvos USVs are designed from the ground up, to perform a wide range of waterborne operations totally remotely, without any personnel on-site. These electric vessels are the first of the kind to operate autonomously from docking stations, without human intervention.
If you are interested in the SMAUG project, stay tuned since more SMAUG technologies will be revealed!
Until then, stay tuned with SMAUG via its social media pages!