Autonomous bathymetry for risk assessment with ROAZ robotic surface vehicle

TLDR

Unmanned marine robotic vehicles are increasingly used for bathymetric surveys, offering efficient tools for risk assessment in shallow water and near‑surf zones. This study aims to demonstrate that the ROAZ autonomous surface vehicle can fill gaps in hydrographic surveys by operating in very shallow rivers and marine coastline surf zones. The authors validated the system through multiple missions in shallow river conditions and along marine coastlines. Results show that ROAZ successfully completed autonomous bathymetric missions in these challenging environments.

Abstract

The use of unmanned marine robotic vehicles in bathymetric surveys is discussed. This paper presents recent results in autonomous bathymetric missions with the ROAZ autonomous surface vehicle. In particular, robotic surface vehicles such as ROAZ provide an efficient tool in risk assessment for shallow water environments and water land interface zones as the near surf zone in marine coast. ROAZ is an ocean capable catamaran for distinct oceanographic missions, and with the goal to fill the gap were other hydrographic surveys vehicles/systems are not compiled to operate, like very shallow water rivers and marine coastline surf zones. Therefore, the use of robotic systems for risk assessment is validated through several missions performed either in river scenario (in a very shallow water conditions) and in marine coastlines.