INTEGRATION OF DIGITAL MEASURING SENSORS INTO UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES FOR MONITORING WORK IN COASTAL AREAS

Abstract

Modern oceanological research in the coastal zone is not only a science-intensive task, but also a popular service with high practical significance. Modern unmanned surface vehicles (UAVs) allow one to move echo sounders, conductometers, samplers and other measuring instruments on the surface of the sea and carry out measurements without direct human involvement. Their use accelerates the organization and course of expeditions, expands the research area: due to their small size they can work in shallow areas with complex orography, where it is dangerous to use vessels with a crew. However, in the domestic oceanological practice there is no universal and cost-effective import substitution platform for solving such a wide range of tasks. This paper presents the results of the development of a universal parameter registration module, a mounting module for instruments and an automatic navigation unit for use in surface unmanned vehicles for hydrographic and oceanological research. The diagrams of the printed circuit board, algorithms of operation and examples of use in the coastal zone of the Black Sea and on some hydrological objects in expeditions of various duration are given. The developed module has a high potential for modernization, low cost and is easily replicated for use both as part of various unmanned complexes and in scientific and methodological tasks.