Seafloor Mapping with the IRIS ASV
The Woods Hole Science Center incorporated an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) into seafloor mapping operations in June, 2006. The ASV is designed to operate in shallow-water (1 - 5 m) and will be used to map surficial sediment distribution and thickness, and seafloor morphology (depth). The WHSC has 'named' the vehicle IRIS (Independently (or) Remotely Influenced Surveyor). IRIS is a catamaran-based platform, 10 feet in length, 4 feet in width, and approximately 260 lbs in weight. IRIS is currently configured with a chirp dual-frequency sidescan-sonar (100/500 kHz) and seismic-reflection profiler (4 - 24 kHz), single-beam echosounder (235 kHz), and a wireless video camera. The IP-based video camera has audio in and speaker out functionality and is used for obstacle avoidance and communication with curious boaters. The vehicle is operated remotely through a wireless modem network enabling realtime monitoring of data acquisition. IRIS is navigated using RTK, and heave, pitch and roll are recorded with onboard motion sensors. Additional sensors, such as ADCPs,
End-view of IRIS underway in Apalachicola Bay, FL, June 2006. Field operations were based aboard the R/V Rafael. (Photo Credit: http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov)
can also be housed within the vehicle. IRIS is able to operate in previously inaccessible areas and will augment existing USGS shallow-water mapping capabilities.
System Operation
When in survey mode, IRIS is monitored by a 'chase-boat'. Operators aboard the 'chase-boat' control vehicle deployment and recovery and continually assess data quality and system operation. IRIS
(Photo Credit: http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov) 22 MTR
has an operating range of approximately 800-m, limited by communication with the 'chase-boat'. Minimum operating depth is limited by the depth of the keel (18 inches). Communication from the 'chaseboat' to IRIS is via an Ethernet switch, wireless modem network and multiple laptop computers. An OIS (Operator Interface Software) package communicates directly with IRIS and enables the operators to powerup and open communication links with the various subsystems (e.g. sidescan-sonar). This allows real-time monitoring (quality control) of transmitted and received messages. Survey tracklines are defined within GIS or navigation software and converted to a mission file with the OIS package. After review, the mission file is transmitted to IRIS for storage and execution. When all subsystems have been powered-up and communication links established, the navigation software is launched for realtime viewing and logging of data. The sidescan-sonar, seismic-reflection and echosounder data are monitored separately and logged locally on the
April 2007
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