Advanced Navigation, an AI robotics and navigation technology, is bringing humans closer to the ocean through a submersible drone.
Hydrus, an underwater robotic technology, was recently sent to the depths of the Rottnest ship graveyard located in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Western Australia.
After unloading the data, the Advanced Navigation team found the Hydrus had detected a 64-meter shipwreck scattered across the seafloor, surpassing twice the size of a blue whale.
Peter Baker, Subsea Product Manager at Advanced Navigation said, “The successful and high-resolution portrait of this particular shipwreck testifies the powerful capabilities of underwater drones such as Hydrus”
The majority of these wrecks have yet to be discovered due to their depths ranging from 50m to 200m. Sourcing data from this depth often requires specialised equipment and training, causing the mission to be overly expensive and challenging.
Small enough to be deployed by a single person, Hydrus utilised its advanced navigation and communication sensors to capture 4K video and imagery simultaneously.
Learning the exact coordinates of the ship, the team used two Hydrus units to perform three missions, completing the full survey in just under five hours. This level of efficiency is crucial for underwater exploration where costs can heighten quickly.
The results were shared with the Western Australian Museum and Curtin University HIVE for further processing and historical analysis.
Curtin University HIVE was able to rebuild a high-resolution replica of the wreck, using the data gathered by Hydrus. This involved taking 4K geo-referenced imagery and video footage from Hydrus to generate a 3D digital twin of the shipwreck.
Associate Professor Andrew Woods, at the Curtin University HIVE said, “The inclusion of navigational coordinates for geolocation is a fantastic feature of Hydrus. It can’t be overstated how much this structure in data assists with constraining feature matching and reducing the processing time, especially in larger datasets.”
Upon examination by Dr. Ross Anderson, Curator at the WA Museum, the historical significance behind the wreck was unveiled as a 100+-year-old coal hulk from Fremantle Port’s bygone days.
“This type of high-resolution imagery is invaluable for maritime archaeological research and education on underwater cultural heritage. With tools like Hydrus, we can obtain accurate maps and 3D models of deepwater historic shipwrecks and learn more about untold stories beneath the waves,”said Anderson.
Advanced Navigation state Hydrus is turning the tide in ocean exploration costs. In this particular mission, Hydrus was able to reduce the surveying cost by up to 75 per cent, enabling the team to conduct more frequent and extensive surveying of the wreck in a shorter time period.
Its design (weighing around 7kg) eliminates the need for large vessels, complex launch systems and professional dive teams.
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