Autonomous underwater sensor networks
I came along an interesting project aimed at developing fully autonomous underwater sensor networks to protect critical infrastructure and water resources. The name of the project is DISCOVERY, which stands for Distributed Intelligence, Sensing and Coordination in Variable Environments.
DISCOVERY uses CSIRO-developed sensors called FLECK modules, which consist of a low-power processor, flash memory, radio transceiver, and rechargeable battery, and autonomous submersible robots with propulsion, actuation, acoustic and optical communication capabilities.
Ultimately these networks will be used to identify hazards to structures such as off-shore oil rigs. In order to operate in an underwater environment, the basic FLECK units will be equipped with compound-specific chemical sensing and potentially in-situ power harvesting. The DISCOVERY project is also carrying out a physics-based simulation of the distributed multi-agent networks it aims to create using the modified FLECK units cooperating with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
The project homepage is available here.
