GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – Collecting and analyzing data from dead zones in the Gulf is no simple task.
That’s why the University of Southern Mississippi and technology company SeaTrac are working to make that process more efficient, cost-effective, and safe.
On the surface, the uncrewed surface vehicle, or USV, appears to be abandoned. But it’s actually doing the work of many researchers as it explores the gulf.
The SP-48 is a remotely operated USV that gathers 24/7 real-time data in hypoxia zones, the oxygen-deprived dead zones in the water.
“We kind of demonstrated in conjunction with NOAA and our Sea Trac partners, that hey, I think we can do this efficiently, cost-effective, better, faster, and more importantly safer,” says Research Development Test Evaluation and Training Director Jason McKenna.
U-S-M and SeaTrac’s partnership is meant to advance operational oceanography and to accompany NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations in enhancing future mission capabilities.
Here’s how the autonomous vehicle collects data:
“We will attach this [Transom] to the winch on the back of the SeaTrac platform or the uncrewed surface vessel in this case…So we will actually take this, there it will be attached to a winch, it will lower down, make casts that go up and down within the bottom meter or so of the sea floor. The automation will allow it to slow down and sample that last meter or so,” Mckenna says.
A 14-day mission allowed students and administration to analyze potential dead zones in the gulf, and how those will affect marine life in the future.
“All of the data that we’re collecting for the hypoxia mapping is coming off of this wench. So, the transom that I showed you, that has the sensors, fits here, and it’s lowered down via this winch,” McKenna explains.
A benefit of uncrewed surface vehicles is that data collection can be done safely, regardless of the water conditions.
“There’s always risks for any time you’re on the water. Things could go wrong very badly, and it could be dangerous. So, if you’re in higher sea states or dangerous conditions, uncrewed vessels provide a way to collect data when the seas are rough or perhaps you don’t want to crew a vessel and go out,” McKenna says.
The solar and battery-powered vehicle is a step in creating a more sustainable Gulf Coast.
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