'ANTS' Autonomous Network of Teleological sampling
In partnership with H Scientific and Vectis Environmental, Marine South East has completed phase 1 of the ‘ANTS’ autonomous underwater vehicle tasking optimisation project.
ANTS has coupled an environmental forecast model, autonomous vehicle models, and near real-time simulated field measurements, with objective, adaptive algorithms and cost functions, to demonstrate how to automatically programme and maintain diverse fleets of unmanned marine vehicles.
H Scientific and Vectis have developed and tested standards-based protocols, a realistic simulator for an undersea glider and, as an example, a system to determine optimum paths for two surface vehicles and two gliders. This path determination and tasking module has been developed, tested successfully and is in operation.
The ANTS technology is being designed to help fleets of autonomous vehicles to carry out surveillance and intervention tasks cost-effectively; for example, identifying pollution sources, and investigating un-mapped features or other objects on the seabed. During phase 1 Marine South East has conducted market research and compiled a comprehensive exploitation plan that shows how complete solutions for users can be developed to suit their information and decision support needs
Phase 1 of ANTS has been funded through the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) 'Small Business Research Initiative' (SBRI) competition. The SBRI is delivered in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and Innovate UK. Marine South East will be seeking 'phase 2' SBRI funding to develop a full demonstration ANTS system.
For more information about SBRI go to: http://noc.ac.uk/SBRI
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