The Indian Maritime Sector, which is dominated by foreign technology, is finally on its way to become self-reliant. As per the news reports in November 2020, a research team at the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) from IIT Madras has developed the solar-powered unmanned survey crafts and is in the process of commercialising this technology with the help the Ministry of Shipping and IIT Madras incubation cell. This unmanned survey craft can undertake autonomous hydrographic and oceanographic surveys and provide real-time data transmission over long distance.
The survey craft was sucessfully tested off the Chennai coast at Kamarajar Port in November 2020 and some more test were conducted under difficult environmental conditions at Syama Prasad Mookerjee (SMP) Port, Kolkata.
This is a boat-like craft that can be operated manually by using a remote control or as a fully autonomous vessel. It can be used for autonomous surveys to measure depth of water and underwater topography at ports, harbours, waterways, dams, lakes lagoons, and other shallow water zones and can transmit data real-time over longer distances. Apart from this, this craft can also be used to study the different properties of the ocean. Being a solar-powered craft, it can stay for a minimum of five hours or longer time in the sea.
The survey craft is equipped with an echo sounder, GPS System, and broadband communication technology. It is also possible to add additional oceanographic payloads for current and velocity measurements, a 360-degree camera, LiDAR (a detection system which works on the principle of radar, but uses light from a laser) for uninterrupted study of the forms and features of underwater land surfaces and measurement of underwater depth of ocean floors, lake floors, etc. It is capable of delivering precise depth measurements.
The autonomous survey craft would help to meet the increasing demands for volume and efficiency as ships are becoming larger, with maximum loading to ensure most efficient operations. The craft has the capability to undertake autonomous hydrography surveys (measurement and description of the physical features of oceans) at different times of the day to identify the navigable paths that can be used for operational window and navigational guidance. This survey craft could help in dealing with some challenges that are frequently encountered by port administrators in India. These challenges include slowing down of traffic, conducting surveys in shallow areas, and involvement of high cost for periodical channel surveys.