UMS mission management for mixed fleets

SeeByte have developed a suite of tools to enable command and control of off-board autonomous systems. This includes SeeTrack, a top-side mission tool suit, and Neptune, a multi-vehicle autonomy system. The application of these tools, with a particular focus on in-mission adaptive and autonomous behaviors, is being investigated for use in oceanographic and environmental research scenarios. “Autonomous systems have the potential to revolutionize the conduct of maritime and amphibious warfare. This transformation could be as dramatic as the move from sail to steam, the invention of the submarine or the advent of naval aviation” First Sea Lord, Royal Navy. This transformative potential also applies to a wide range of maritime activities, including hydrography, oceanography and environmental research. However, it is clear that to gain the best advantages for scientific research the latest autonomous systems and technology needs to be made available to a wider pool of users. In particular, the current quantity and quality of data available to scientific research is limited in many aspects. The overarching aim for the delivered software framework and the scenario behaviors will be to enable maritime autonomous systems to be the “force multiplier” required. Particular focus be given to ensure that the behaviors developed are capable reducing the frequency and complexity of operator input and enabling shore-based operations with very long duration missions. This paper will present two on-going pieces of work, giving some insight in to the technology developed and some initial results from the programs. The first is the Adaptive Autonomous Ocean Sampling Networks (AAOSN) project, which is a £1.5million project run NERC, Dstl and the Innovate UK, to develop new technology solutions for coordinating a suite of Marine Autonomous Systems (MAS) enabling tracking of dynamic features. The SeeByte consortium, which comprises ASV and Marine Biological Society the UK, aims to provide an open software tool-set and user interface that will enable improved use of a wide-range of autonomous systems in gathering data from the ocean over extended periods, while constantly adapting to the environment and mission requirements. The behaviors will integrate sensor data and interpretation methods to enable adaptive, multi-vehicle missions using combinations of USV, UUV and Glider assets. Particular focus be on extending the existing work on Tagged Fish Tracking, to develop a multi-vehicle approach with a ten-day in-water field-trial occurring in the Plymouth Sound. The second program of work discussed is development of a SeeTrack glider-fleet management tool that can remotely monitor the position of each glider in the fleet and re-plan and change mission plans accordingly. This effectively provides a tool where every glider's vital stats can be monitored and tasking updated in one place. This can be done from a remote laptop at any time of day. This tool was originally developed for the NOC MARS (Maritime Autonomous Remote Systems) team and will provide remote mission planning capabilities, as well as enabling 24/7 remote monitoring for the UK National Facilities glider fleet managed by NOC