Marine Technology integrates SBG’ INS/GNSS in their USV HydroDron

Wave measurement sensors are essential tools for understanding ocean dynamics and improving safety and efficiency in marine operations. By providing accurate and timely data on wave conditions, they help inform decisions across various sectors, from shipping and navigation to environmental conservation. Wave buoys are floating devices equipped with sensors to measure wave parameters such as height, period, and direction.

They typically use accelerometers or gyroscopes to detect wave motion (e.g. wave period) and can transmit real-time data to shore-based facilities for analysis.

Hydrographic surveying is the process of measuring and mapping physical features of bodies of water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. It involves collecting data related to the depth, shape, and contours of the seafloor (seafloor mapping), as well as the location of submerged objects, navigational hazards, and other underwater features (e.g. water trenches). Hydrographic surveying is crucial for various applications, including navigation safety, coastal management and coastal survey, construction, and environmental monitoring.

Hydrographic surveying involves several key components, starting with bathymetry, which measures water depth and seafloor topography using sonar systems like single-beam or multi-beam echo sounders that send sound pulses to the seafloor and measure the echo’s return time.

Accurate positioning is critical, achieved using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) to link depth measurements to precise geographic coordinates. Additionally, water column data, such as temperature, salinity, and currents, are measured, and geophysical data is collected to detect underwater objects, obstacles, or hazards using tools like side-scan sonar and magnetometers.

Bathymetry is the study and measurement of the depth and shape of underwater terrain, primarily focused on mapping the seafloor and other submerged landscapes. It is the underwater equivalent of topography, providing detailed insights into the underwater features of oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. Bathymetry plays a crucial role in various applications, including navigation, marine construction, resource exploration, and environmental studies.

Modern bathymetric techniques rely on sonar systems, such as single-beam and multibeam echo sounders, which use sound waves to measure water depth. These devices send sound pulses toward the seafloor and record the time it takes for the echoes to return, calculating depth based on the speed of sound in water. Multibeam echo sounders, in particular, allow for wide swaths of the seafloor to be mapped at once, providing highly detailed and accurate seafloor representations. Frequently, a RTK + INS solution is associated to create accurately positioned 3D bathymetric representations of the seafloor.

Bathymetric data is essential for creating nautical charts, which help guide vessels safely by identifying potential underwater hazards like submerged rocks, wrecks, and sandbanks. It also plays a vital role in scientific research, helping researchers understand underwater geological features, ocean currents, and marine ecosystems.

A buoy is a floating device primarily used in maritime and water-based environments for several key purposes. Buoys are often placed in specific locations to mark safe passages, channels, or hazardous areas in bodies of water. They guide ships and vessels, helping them avoid dangerous spots like rocks, shallow waters, or wrecks.

They are used as anchoring points for vessels. Mooring buoys allow boats to tie up without having to drop anchor, which can be especially useful in areas where anchoring is impractical or damaging to the environment.

Instrumented buoys are equipped with sensors to measure environmental conditions like temperature, wave height, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. These buoys provide valuable data for weather forecasting, climate research, and oceanographic studies.

Some buoys act as platforms for collecting and transmitting real-time data from the water or seabed, often used in scientific research, environmental monitoring, and military applications.

In commercial fishing, buoys mark the location of traps or nets. They also help in aquaculture, marking the locations of underwater farms.

Buoys can also mark designated areas such as no-anchoring zones, no-fishing zones, or swimming areas, helping enforce regulations on the water.

In all cases, buoys are critical for ensuring safety, facilitating marine activities, and supporting scientific research.

Buoyancy is the force exerted by a fluid (such as water or air) that opposes the weight of an object submerged in it. It allows objects to float or rise to the surface if their density is less than that of the fluid. Buoyancy occurs because of the difference in pressure exerted on the object’s submerged portions—greater pressure is applied at lower depths, creating an upward force.

The principle of buoyancy is described by Archimedes’ principle, which states that the upward buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. If the buoyant force is greater than the object’s weight, it will float; if it is less, the object will sink. Buoyancy is essential in many fields, from marine engineering (designing ships and submarines) to the functionality of floating devices like buoys.

ROV or Remotely Operated Vehicle, is an uncrewed underwater robot designed to operate in environments that are too deep, dangerous, or otherwise inaccessible for human divers. ROVs are widely used in marine industries such as offshore oil and gas, scientific research, environmental monitoring, and naval operations. Unlike autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), which operate independently following pre-programmed paths, ROVs are typically tethered to a surface vessel via an umbilical cable that provides power, communication, and control signals. This tether allows a human operator on the surface to pilot the vehicle in real time, providing precise maneuvering, monitoring, and control of onboard sensors and manipulators.

ROVs are equipped with a variety of instruments depending on their mission. They commonly carry high-definition cameras for visual inspection, sonar systems for mapping and navigation, and manipulator arms for interacting with objects on the seabed. Advanced models may include specialized sensors such as environmental probes, magnetometers, and inertial navigation systems (INS) to maintain accurate positioning in challenging underwater conditions. Since GPS/GNSS signals cannot penetrate water, ROVs rely on a combination of acoustic positioning systems, Doppler velocity logs (DVLs), pressure sensors, and inertial navigation to estimate their position relative to the surface vessel or a fixed reference point. High-precision ROVs used in subsea construction or scientific research often integrate tactical-grade IMUs to ensure centimeter-level accuracy over extended operations, even in areas with poor acoustic coverage.

The design of an ROV is highly modular, allowing different payloads to be attached depending on mission requirements. Small observation-class ROVs are lightweight and portable, intended for simple visual inspections, while work-class ROVs are much larger, capable of heavy-duty tasks such as subsea construction, pipeline repair, or sample collection. ROVs provide unmatched access to underwater environments, extending human capabilities and enabling operations at depths and durations that would otherwise be impossible. In essence, an ROV is both a versatile exploration tool and a precision platform for executing complex underwater missions, bridging the gap between human oversight and remote robotic capability.