Unmanned Maritime Vehicles, 20 years of commercial and technical evolution

Abstract

Unmanned Maritime Vehicles (UMVs) have been under development, especially with US Navy research funds, for decades. However, meaningful advances in the commercial sector have only been seen in the past 20 years. In 1997 Bluefin Robotics was formed out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant College Program Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Lab. Since then many other companies have developed and delivered unmanned maritime vehicles. The transition from research topic to commercial technology has not always been easy, but it has been profound. This paper reviews both sub-component technology and UMV system developments over the past twenty years. Both unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are examined. Key technology topics reviewed include: propulsion, power, positioning, telemetry, and software. Just as the technology of UMVs has evolved so too have their applications. This paper also evaluates the commercial and operational results that have made UMVs ubiquitous in ocean applications. In particular it covers: survey UUVs, buoyancy gliders, persistent and conventional USVs and inspection and intervention UUVs. This paper aims to capture the major technology and mission accomplishments of UMV manufacturers and operators over the past two decades. It is intended to provide a broad overview of the field to inform both commercial and academic participants in the community. Understanding the challenges of the past, and opportunities of the future are key to ongoing development of technologies. This paper assists all those interested in UMVs toward that end.