REMUS 6000 AUV- Data Protocol and Format

Jason Bach

          ASCI 605 – Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing

         Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

10/03/2016

             

            The Remus 6000 built by Kongsberg is a reliable proven Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) that gathers and analyzes data through different payload mission sensor options. The Remus 6000 can be used for multiple underwater missions from 25 meters up to 6000 meters in depth and can remain underwater for up to 22 hours. The AUV weighs 1900 pounds is 12.5 feet long and 28 inches in diameter (Kongsberg, 2016). The Remus 6000 can be used for many missions to collect data for analysis. Some of the underwater uses for the Remus 6000 are marine archeology, habitat mapping, area search, surveillance/reconnaissance, asset location, and hydrographic surveys (Kongsberg, 2016). The following Figure 1 depicts the Remus 6000 and some of its sensors.

Figure 1. Remus 6000 platform. Adapted from https://www.km.kongsberg.com/ks/web /nokbg0240.nsf/AllWeb/481519DA1B0207CDC12574B0002A8451?OpenDocument#tab-3

Sensors and Payload

            The Remus 6000 can be operated with many sensors onboard in several different configurations depending on what underwater data is being collected. Customers can have the Remus 6000 reconfigured to their specified sensor suite for mission requirements. The standard sensors are an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, an Inertial Navigation Unit, Side Scan Sonar, pressure sensor, and conductivity and temperature sensors (Kongsberg, 2016). The optional sensors able to be installed by the operator are a dual frequency side scan, an acoustic modem, GPS receiver, flourometers, acoustic imaging, video camera, electronic still camera, and a sub-bottom profiler (Kongsberg, 2016). Communications are received underwater by the acoustic modem and on the surface via Wi-Fi and Iridium radio. The ship used for launch and recovery has a launch and recovery system installed, a towed acoustic transducer to gather data real-time, a GPS antenna, an Iridium base station, and a Wi-Fi base station. The Remus 6000 operates on an 11kWh rechargeable Li-ion battery pack stored in two pressure containers (Kongsberg, 2016). It has a second set of batteries that can be changed out in a two hour period for relaunch and recharged in 8 hours. Mission times are not longer than 22 hours depending on speed and the sensor configurations (Kongsberg, 2016).

Software Operation System and Data Management

            The Remus 6000 is operated on a Windows based Graphical User Interface (GUI). It makes data analysis, vehicle monitoring, maintenance, and mission planning much easier and can be done in real-time on a laptop from the launch and recover ship or from shore if needed. Standard Ethernet connections are used for communication through the power/data interface box (Kongsberg, 6000). The software can monitor the mission with a constant map view with automatic error checking throughout the mission displaying warning messages when an error is found. The laptop screen has a display for green, red, or yellow indicators for critical AUV systems statuses with detailed text windows on internal system operations. While on the mission with no host connected all data is logged to an internal disk drive aboard the Remus 6000 and viewed through acoustic modem transmission from the side scan and bathymetry sensors via real-time for the user. After a mission the internal disk drive can be reviewed as a training and troubleshooting aid prior to export. The data can also be exported as an ASCII text or Matlab format to be imported to spreadsheet programs or Matlab programs for processing. The files will include position, altitude, depth, or any feature desired by the analyst for data processing and analysis (Kongsberg, 2016).  GUI software can be installed on any laptop or the user can purchase a ruggedized laptop with the AUV for operational use.

Recommended Data Treatment Improvement

            Currently much of the data can be viewed by the operator shipboard. I recommend the acoustic modem be used to send data shipboard then use cloud-based technology for storage and immediate access by multiple users off ship. This would eliminate waiting for the AUV to be brought onboard for data recovery, formatting, and then sent out to users. This would also depend on the cloud storage system having a dependable signal strength or satellite available to transmit the data to its new locations for immediate analysis. I also recommend more common data formats be made available other than just ASCII text or Matlab for conversion and analysis of the data gathered.

Conclusion

The Remus 6000 was made famous worldwide for discovering the wreckage and black box of Air France 447 in 2011 by the Woods Hole Institute Team at a depth of 13,000 feet (Koerth-Baker, 2011). Since then it has had several technological improvements over the years and continues as a very successful dependable AUV with several other products available through Kongsberg. The underwater environment is a very challenging domain for unmanned vehicles and Kongsberg with the Remus 6000 brings an efficient sensor platform to the consumer with state of the art data collection for many applications.

References

Kongsberg. (2016). Remus 6000. Retrieved from https://www.km.kongsberg.com

/ks/web/nokbg0240.nsf/AllWeb/481519DA1B0207CDC12574B0002A8451?OpenDocument

Koerth-Baker, M. (2011, May 6). Air France 447: How scientists found a needle in a haystack.

            Retrieved from http://boingboing.net/2011/05/06/air-france-447-how-s.html