Module 6.4 – UNSY 605

The use and development of unmanned systems in the maritime environment has moved slowly when compared to its counterparts on the ground and in the air.  Typically, these maritime systems fall into two categories, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).  In particular, AUVs face a number of challenges in their operational domain that have slowed their progress and widespread implementation.  However, Bluefin Robotics seems to be on the leading edge with AUV technology as their Bluefin-21, which has been purchased by the U.S. Navy, was inserted into search and rescue efforts for the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (Makinen 2014).  One of the main reasons that the Bluefin-21 was selected for use by the U.S. Navy are the capabilities and technology provided by the control station and its software.

Bluefin Robotics produces the Bluefin-9, -12S, -12D, -21, and HAUV AUVs all of which operate on the same Operator Tool Suite software package (General Dynamics 2016).  The software provides a Windows-based user interface which allows the operator to monitor and manage all aspects of the system and its mission (General Dynamics 2016).  There are three main functional modes provided by the Operator Tool Suite: Mission Planner, Dashboard, and Lantern.  As its name suggests, the Mission Planner tool allows for planning and verification of missions ranging from basic to complex plans (General Dynamics 2016).  The Dashboard tool provides an interface for vehicle testing and mission monitoring on a chart-based, operator-specified display (General Dynamics 2016).  Finally, the Lantern tool is used for post-mission sensor data display, analysis, and reporting (General Dynamics 2016).   

Since all of the systems produced by Bluefin Robotics are autonomous, there is not a great need for operator feedback within the system.  However, the system could be greatly improve if the technologies available in the Lantern tool were implemented in a real-time fashion.  Even though there is not an “operator” for an AUV, there is someone monitoring the progress of the system.  In the current system setup, the system monitor can only observe the status of the system components and track the progress of the system along its mission course.  Upgrading the Operator Tool Suite software to allow for real-time or near real-time sensor data display would provide great benefits for its mission accomplishment.  Having the capability to monitor sensor data immediately would allow for the system operator to determine if changes to the planned mission are needed. 

An example of when this ability would be beneficial is a search and rescue scenario similar to that of the Malaysia Airline Flight 370.  On the current system, the operator would have to wait until a search mission has been accomplished to determine if anything of worth was discovered.  If in the post-mission analysis, a significant discovery was made, the operator would then have to plan an entirely new mission to re-examine the area of interest.  Conversely, a system with the real-time sensor data display would provide the capability for the operator to make that same determination on the spot and adjust the current mission plan accordingly.  Creating a new Operator Tool Suite with this ability would increase the efficiency of search and rescue efforts significantly, reducing the burdens of time and cost.

Improving the Operator Tool Suite would certainly address an area of need in terms of conquering the hardships of AUV operations.  However, there are many other tasks that have to be tackled before the use of unmanned systems in the underwater domain becomes as pronounced as in the air and on the ground.  But each problem that is solved will make the successive progress a little easier.

References

General Dynamics.  (2016). Operator Software.  Bluefin Robotics.  Retrieved from http://www.bluefinrobotics.com/technology/operator-software/

Makinen, J.  (2014). Malaysia Airlines plane search goes underwater.  Los Angeles Times.  Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2014/apr/14/world/la-fg-malaysia-bluefin-20140415