Fully integrated multi-vehicles mine countermeasure missions

Yan Pailhas, Pedro Patron, Joel Cartwright, Francesco Maurelli, Jamil Sawas, Yvan Petillot, Nicolas Valeyrie

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The capability and cost effectiveness that autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) bring to mine countermeasure operations (MCM) has been widely demonstrated and accepted in recent years. However, these operations still rely mainly on surface vessels, human operators and divers. These current Navy forces are showing their limitations for modern MCM doctrine: they are vulnerable, costly and slow to deploy. In this paper, we analyse the benefits and re- quirements of heterogeneous fleets of AUVs for enabling fully integrated MCM operations. The Ocean Systems Laboratory has a record of successful concept demonstrations at all the De- tection, Classification, Identification, and Neutralisation (DCIN) stages of the MCM workflow. Nevertheless, a demonstration showing all the multidisciplinary capabilities fully integrated in a truly autonomous distributed sensing-decision-act loop has never been achieved.
In this paper, we describe the research and engineering challenges that we are facing. Then, we introduce the existing research contributions in automatic target recognition, knowl- edge distribution and decision making processes. This will allow us to overcome the research challenges and to demonstrate its capability. We also propose a set of combined metrics to eval- uate the performance improvement of the system over state-of-the-art approaches. We identify a possible concept of operation scenario for a demonstration. Finally we present the results of the fully integrated MCM mission conducted at the end of last year.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication4th International Conference and Exhibition on Underwater Acoustic Measurements
Subtitle of host publicationTechnologies and Results
ISBN (Electronic)978-960-98883-5-6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2011
Event4th International Conference and Exhibition on Underwater Acoustic Measurements: Technologies and Results - Kos Island, Greece
Duration: 20 Jun 201124 Jun 2011

Conference

Conference4th International Conference and Exhibition on Underwater Acoustic Measurements
Abbreviated titleUAM 2011
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityKos Island
Period20/06/1124/06/11

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