Module 2.4 - UNSY 605

The use of unmanned systems in search and rescue (SAR) operations has been steadily increasing in recent years.  A recent and well-publicized instance of the use of unmanned systems in SAR was in the events following the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean.  After a month of searching without results, the U.S. Navy decided to field the Bluefin-21 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in the search party (Pearlman 2014).  The Bluefin-21 completed 5 search missions covering over 50 square miles at its maximum depth rating (Pearlman 2014).  As a matter of fact, on the fourth mission, the Bluefin reached a record depth of 15,404 feet in order reach the deeper parts of the ocean floor (Pearlman 2014).  The Bluefin-21 is a viable option for underwater search and rescue due to the sensor package it operates.  The Bluefin-21 uses Global Positioning System (GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), and Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) tracking to determine its location and its orientation to its surroundings (General Dynamics 2015).  The 21 also monitors its internal environment with fault and leak detection sensors which work in tandem with the navigational sensors to ensure a stable operational system (General Dynamics 2015).  The search capabilities provided by the 21 include side scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and multi-beam echosounder sensors which make it a well-suited tool for underwater SAR operations (General Dynamics 2015). 

The Bluefin-21 AUV is a great system for maritime SAR operations, but there are improvements that could be made for the system to provide more effective support for these scenarios.  In order to make the 21 better equipped for maritime SAR, I would upgrade the software and communications links for the system to allow for communication with other unmanned systems.  The development of this type of software and communications links is already being accomplished by the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partner, through project ICARUS (Integrated Components for Assisted and Unmanned Search Operations).  Through two demonstrations, ICARUS has shown unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can play a huge role in maritime SAR with the developed software (STO-CMRE 2015).  The software provides increased autonomy and integration between unmanned systems in the two domains through a shared robotic network (STO-CMRE 2015).  The software created by CMRE could be modified for AUVs allowing them to connect with USVs and UAVs during maritime SAR operations.  The shared network created by this software would provide the benefits of a multi-domain system that can share data across multiple assets. 

The thought of sending a “drone army” into SAR scenarios may not sit well with the public, so a human presence will likely be required for SAR operations.  But the use of unmanned systems in SAR will continue to increase due to the inherent advantages they provide.  Severe weather can be a safety hazard for dive teams and other personnel in maritime SAR, but stormy waters do not pose nearly as high a threat to USVs and AUVs.  Additionally, a dive team must be aware of their dive time and ascension rate to prevent decompression sickness or hypothermia.  Again, an AUV, such as the Bluefin-21, can operate for up to 25 hours without resurfacing and does not have to worry about the effects of an accelerated ascent (General Dynamics 2015).  Using unmanned systems in maritime SAR will remove the possible safety issues rescue workers face, while simultaneously increasing the range and duration for which the operations can be accomplished.  The final result of unmanned systems implementation will hopefully be more effective SAR operations in order to save as many lives as possible.

References

General Dynamics.  (2015). Bluefin-21. Bluefin Robotics.  Retrieved from http://www.bluefinrobotics.com/vehicles-batteries-and-services/bluefin-21

Pearlman, J.  (2014). Malaysia Airlines MH370:  Bluefin-21 submarine reprogrammed to reach record depth.  The Telegraph.  Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/10774740/Malaysia-Airlines-MH370-Bluefin-21-submarine-reprogrammed-to-reach-record-depth.html

Science & Technology Organization-Centre for Maritime Research & Experimentation.  (2015). Robotic Search and Rescue:  the new ICARUS system ready for use from 2016.  Retrieved from http://www.cmre.nato.int/news-room/blog-news-archive/42-rokstories/321-cmre-at-the-forefront-of-nato-s-interoperability-2