Page 51: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2023)

SeaTrac Systems, Inc.

www.seatrac.com

Picture a 15-foot kayak with solar pan- els on top. Instead of people, the craft is out? tted with sensors, cameras and all manner of ocean observing instruments.

Now picture sending this uncrewed platform off to sea for months at a time to collect its data far over the horizon, or alternatively cruising along shallow coastlines, lakes and estuaries while you sit comfortably at your desk and receive its ? ndings and monitor its course in real time. This is the idea behind SeaT- rac Systems, Inc., which manufactures, equipment. The standard onboard sen- to provide key information about the sells, and rents persistent, solar pow- sors, including GPS, 360-degree cam- system itself and the surrounding envi- ered USVs from its headquarters in eras, AIS transceiver, and met station ronment. The Dashboard software can

Marblehead, MA. Founded in 2017 by provide situational awareness to remote be used to program and execute mis- two MIT trained naval architect/serial operations centers and enable effective sions while monitoring the status and entrepreneurs who spotted an opportu- remote piloting from nearshore coastal health of the USV. The SP-48 can be nity in the market for a boat drone that environments to over the horizon mis- launched quickly from its trailer at any was simpler, more reliable, and afford- sions. The SeaTrac Dashboard Control boat ramp or can also be deployed with able than alternatives. SeaTrac’s sweet Software allows the pilot to manage the a crane from a pier or ship using the cen- spot is jobs at sea that are often dirty, ? ow of data based on the mission needs ter point lift.

dull, dangerous or expensive to perform with crewed boats—activities such as weather tracking, hydrographic surveys, eelgrass mapping, harmful algal bloom monitoring, persistent metocean data gathering, surveillance and reconnais- sance, and mammal monitoring, among others. Customers include commercial, scienti? c and military end users who are looking to operate in the ocean more greenly, safely, and cost effectively.

The SeaTrac SP-48 Uncrewed Sur- face Vehicle (USV) is a 15 ft. platform capable of deploying a wide range of sensors. It uses an array of solar panels to charge a large internal battery pack that powers the USV and its payloads.

The USV uses a brushless electric mo- tor for propulsion, with a cruising speed of 3 kts and a maximum speed of 5 kts.

Data can be streamed back in real time over the available redundant communi- cations methods including RF for line of sight, cellular for nearshore when available, and satellite for over the ho- rizon operations. The USV can also be equipped with custom communications www.marinetechnologynews.com 51

MTR #7 (50-65).indd 51 10/3/2023 9:59:20 AM