Theme 1: Maritime safety and security

Theme 5: Coastal environmental planning and management

AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) have proven their ability in numerous fields, such as hydrography, homeland security, military applications, energy (offshore oil and gas), scientific research and the environment. Vehicles currently on the market are, however, often technically complicated, cumbersome to operate and are no match for new challenges.

The COMET project will respond to the growing demand for low-cost platforms that allow several different sectors of activity to have access to such means of surveillance and observation. Using broadband network and acoustic communication technologies, the COMET system will be able to carry out joint operations in the subsea environment.

The project’s main aim is to develop a low-cost, autonomous subsea robot designed to receive a range of useful loadings. Measuring 1.5m long and 150mm in diameter, its weight will not exceed 32kg, ensuring its positive floatability. It will have a maximum speed of 10 knots and four controlled fins that will guarantee considerable manoeuvrability. At the heart of the project will be a study of onboard energy: high-output technology will make missions in excess of six hours possible in standard mode.

The project’s second technical challenge will be to get robots operating successfully as a group. This revolution in subsea applications lies in the development of several embedded technologies that include satellite positioning and acoustic communication systems, with broadband data transmission via acoustic modems using a multi-AUV configuration. Miniaturisation of such a complex system presents a real technological and industrial challenge.

It will be possible for one person to operate the COMET autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV) which will cost less to maintain. A ‘swarm’ of AUVs will be extremely easy to deploy on missions, as they will be placed in and retrieved from the water from a pontoon or light vessel with the minimum of logistical resources. Risk levels are considerably reduced when a mission is carried out by several, coordinated AUVs simultaneously performing different functions. Lastly, the loss of any one element of the group will not lead to the mission being completely disrupted, as the system allows for continued functioning in degraded mode.

COMET project partners  

Companies

- NEOTEK, Guidel – 56, leader in instrumentation buoys, floats and positioning technologies, offers a wide range of high tech equipment for the navy, merchant shipping and oceanography, project director

- ZTI, Lannion – 22, develops and markets test and analysis software tools for IP networks and develops and integrates synchronisation and timing solutions using GPS-synchronised time receivers and servers

- Williamson Electronique - 44 : concepteur de systèmes d’énergie autonome intégrant des éléments primaires et secondaires (toutes technologies) ainsi que des ultra-capacités.

Research centres

- Ensta Bretagne, Brest, E312 Laboratory

- Télécom Bretagne, Brest. 

Contacts:

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