According to Costanzi et al., (2020), Unmanned Maritime Systems (UMS) are making waves (literally) with their swift mobility while promising a significant reduction in price and overall manpower than normal status quo methodologies. UMS operators give the glider commands and in response it sends back data in real life. However, UMS while presenting a plethora of positive pros, there are a few cons associated with underwater operations. One current issue with UMS are communication disturbances due to bad underwater acoustics. While the abundance of rapidly evolving technology provides significant operating capability to a UMS, there are still issues beyond control. One suggestion to mitigate this communication issue was suggested to create a multi-domain channel that specifically transmits information through numerous devices and dispatch approaches. Moreover, Costanzi et al., (2020) suggests that testing inoperable UMS provides the means to increase reliability and performance levels through developing solutions that may not otherwise be noticed or discovered.
The use of UMS is growing with the recent collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Navy to develop and expand UMS operations. NOAA collects information about the world's atmosphere and oceans while analyzing the date to better understand how to protect the environment. Specific algorithms and commuting equipment allows accurate measurements of water salinity and temperature to continually understand what storm potentials may be on the rise. Currently NOAA and the U.S. Navy has currently created and implemented the use of the ocean gliders to assess the environment equipped with sensors that evaluate temperatures and air pressure. This ocean glider is an unmanned underwater vehicle possessing the ability to obtain pertinent information from inaccessible areas beneath the earth's surface. The use of the unmanned glider provides the means for collecting data without subjecting someone to dangerous situations. The present use for this drone has been to assess the impending hurricanes gauging wind force along with underwater oceanic profiles (NOAA, 2020).
These UMS can be assembled with numerous sensors providing more accurate data gathering for better weather forecasting. According to Fotheringham (2021) these marine gliders contain sensors that provide a better understanding of the ocean's water quality through measuring specific components of the water's molecular properties along with current velocity. Through the use of these UMS researchers have gained specific insight on how a storm may react based on water temperature and current static throughout each layer. NOAA has been using these types of underwater gliders since 2014 to gain insight on hurricanes up to a category 5 (Fotheringham, 2021). Teledyne Marine (2020) states that the U.S. Navy utilizes 50 gliders around the world that deliver essential information for weather forecasting. This insight has provided important information on what conditions create a hurricane such as low-salinity water and high heats ultimately intensive a hurricane's strength. NOAA then uses this date and inputs it into their forecast model for hurricanes that ultimately increases the accuracy of the hurricane forecast.
In conclusion, the ocean glider is a great start for NOAA and the U.S. Navy in creating a successful UMV. Having the ability to better understand atmospheric conditions provides the means to better prepare for future impact. This information of the atmosphere allows researchers to improve current storm protocols and better improve weather forecasts. Extensive progress has been made in the understanding of the oceans capabilities through the use of these UMS. Having this incredible insight on profiling potential and current storms allows NOAA and the U.S. Navy the means to help better predict impact and storm response methods. As technology continues to advance, so will the capabilities of these UMS ultimately protecting nearby communities and saving lives.
Thanks,
EMW
References
Costanzi, R., Fenucci, D., Manzari,V., Micheli, M., Morlando, L., Terracciano, D., Caiti, A., Stifani, M., and Tesei, A. (2020). Interoperability among unmanned maritime vehicles: Review and first in-field experimentation. Retrieved from https://doaj.org/article/0ea57ba7bca243eaa00d778fcec24418
Fotheringham, D. (2021). Using gliders for long-term ocean observations. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/trade-journals/using-gliders-long-term-ocean-observations/docview/2504561729/se-2?accountid=27203
Glider AUV (2018). Retrieved from https://www.dofsubsea.com/rov/glider-auv/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2020). NOAA, U.S. Navy will increase nation’s unmanned maritime systems operations. Retrieved from https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-us-navy-will-increase-nation-s-unmanned-maritime-systems-operations
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2020). What is an ocean glider? Retrieved from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-gliders.html
Teledyne Marine (2020). Measuring the hostile ocean beneath hurricanes. Retrieved from http://www.teledynemarine.com/blog/measuring-the-hostile-ocean-beneath-hurricanes/?utm_campaign=TM%20Newsletter%20February%202020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
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