Marine environments are vital for global ecosystems but present challenges for study due to rough seas and remote locations. Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles (ASVs and AUVs) equipped with advanced sensors offer new opportunities for marine observation, collecting high-quality data on ocean variables like temperature and salinity. These vehicles can reach previously inaccessible areas, enhancing our understanding of marine dynamics. They enable data collection across extended spatial and temporal scales with minimal human intervention, reducing costs and environmental impact.
To fully leverage the potential of autonomous systems, intelligent vehicle planning algorithms play a crucial role in guiding their missions. CSIRO has developed a vehicle planner for adaptive information gathering using marine vehicle fleets. This algorithm efficiently generates optimal plans for collecting data in challenging marine environments, particularly where communication is limited. By balancing exploration and targeted data collection, the algorithm maximises mission efficiency over long timeframes. Its versatility allows it to track specific features of interest, such as marine heatwaves and subsurface chlorophyll maxima.
This presentation highlights the robust capabilities of CSIRO's adaptive path planner and its potential to transform marine observation. Combining autonomous marine vehicles with intelligent planning algorithms holds great promise for advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems.