Page 16: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2023)

VEHICLE TECH CRAWLERS vention. This mode is particularly bene? cial for hydrographic ensuring safe and effective operations.

surveying or mapping coastal zones, where the vehicle can Beyond these applications, the Bayonet crawlers can support cover large areas ef? ciently while collecting high-resolution coastal dredging support, environmental monitoring of the bathymetric data, even in challenging surf zone conditions. sea? oor, beach zone, rivers, and marshes, and wharf inspec-

In the tether-operated mode, users maintain real-time com- tions. They can even be deployed to monitor harmful algal munication and control over the vehicle through a physical blooms, commonly known as red tides, which pose severe link, making it the perfect companion for wind farm survey threats to marine ecosystems and human health. In this con- and maintenance. The Bayonet crawlers’ ability to provide text, the Bayonet crawler can autonomously navigate and col- live video and sensor feeds allows operators to inspect un- lect water samples, while operators supervise the mission and derwater structures such as foundations and cables, making adapt the vehicle’s route based on the real-time data received. informed decisions on the spot. This ensures ef? cient monitoring and early detection of red

The supervised autonomy mode strikes a balance between tide events, helping to mitigate their impacts.

the two, enabling the Bayonet crawlers to perform tasks semi- “What’s next for Bayonet? We’ll be looking at re? ning our autonomously while still granting human operators the power battery solution and sensor integration scheme,’ says Hart- to intervene when necessary. This mode is particularly useful man. ‘In the next six to twelve months, we are particularly in littoral warfare scenarios, such as mine detection and clear- excited to explore the integration of manipulators. Imagina- ance, as operators can closely monitor and guide the vehicle, tion sparks the rest.“ 16 May/June 2023

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