Detection of fine scale structure in the offshore surface environment using an autonomous underwater vehicle

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21841
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 63:Environmental analyses and evaluation and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Komatsu Kosei 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (30371834)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 海洋表層微細構造 / 自動観測 / 水中ドローン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to develop an automated method for observing the fine-scale structure of the open ocean surface layer, which has been difficult to observe using conventional methods. A new observing system was developed to automatically measure the 3D structure of water temperature and salinity with a resolution of 5 m in the horizontal direction and 0.1 m in the vertical direction. The system consists of an underwater drone (SEASAM/Notilo Plus) with a memory-type CT meter (A7CT2-USB/JFE Advantech) attached and a GPS-equipped buoy (SEASAM-Navigator/Notilo Plus) moored at the sea surface. We can observe the target area at any resolution by pre-setting the underwater drone's movement path on the controller and transmitting commands to the drone via WiFi.

Free Research Field

海洋環境学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で新たに開発した水中ドローンによる海洋表層微細構造の自動観測システムは、従来の観測手法ではアプローチが困難であった、潮目、海上風の吹送作用、波浪のストークスドリフトやラングミュア循環等に伴って海洋表層に生じた水塊の3次元微細構造を直接観測することが可能である。本システムは、水中ドローンに航行に支障のない範囲で多様な複数種のセンサ類を追加することが可能であり、沿岸域から外洋域まで、注目する環境因子の3次元微細分布構造を直接明らかにすることで海洋環境研究に革新的な進展をもたらすことが期待される。