AutoNaut for Extreme Environments - extension

The AutoNaut for Extreme Environments Extension project will verify and validate (V&V) technology solutions developed in our original RAI project, and demonstrate AutoNaut's new capability to external stakeholders operating at high latitudes.

The aim of the original project was to make the wave propelled AutoNaut unmanned surface vessel (USV) capable of operating in Southern Ocean and Arctic waters, eventually in winter. This proving mission in summer-autumn 2021 is the first step towards that.

To verify and demonstrate the new capability the 'Polar AutoNaut' will aim to complete a long-endurance deployment gathering science data from Oban in Scotland to Iceland, and potentially across towards Greenland. These areas, the Extended Ellett Line and OSNAP East, are the subject of important long-term scientific research into subpolar measurement of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

In this extension AutoNaut will partner with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The aim is to validate AutoNaut's new robust capability to operate at high latitude**_,_** _and_ to gather worthwhile data leading to published science papers so that the demonstration reaches the wider external stakeholder audience. This will also enable us to demonstrate to our global partners/stakeholders/customers in oil and gas, offshore renewables, defence, surveillance, aquaculture, met forecasting and others interested in operating in extreme environments.

On this mission AutoNaut will work for the first time in concert with underwater gliders deployed by SAMS and others, and seabed mounted sensors, to gather concurrent surface data.

The original project, completing December 2020, developed technological solutions to enable the wave propelled AutoNaut to operate at high latitude, eventually in winter, including: • Anti-icing solutions • Detection and avoidance of small ice in waves. • The provision of electrical hotel power in winter when it is too dark for our usual PV panels to recharge batteries

• Build materials capable of withstanding cold, ice abrasion and impact. This extension is an important step in proving and demonstrating new high latitude extreme environment capability.

Already R&D in the initial Extreme Environments project has read across to and greatly benefited all AutoNaut products operating globally in a wide range of sectors and roles.