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Sensors for Unmanned Surface/Underwater Vehicles: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Trends
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Sensors for Unmanned Surface/Underwater Vehicles: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Trends

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Navigation and Positioning".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 441

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eduardo Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. INESCTEC—Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
2. ISEP—School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Interests: field robotics; marine robotics; autonomous systems; engineering and technology; electrotechnical engineering; electronics and informatics; robotics and automatic control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Sensors, entitled "Sensors for Unmanned Surface/Underwater Vehicles: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Trends", explores the critical role of sensors in enhancing the capabilities of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles. These sensors enable unmanned vehicles to navigate, perceive their surroundings, and precisely execute tasks. This Issue delves into the various types of sensors, such as sonar, cameras, inertial sensors, and EMF sensors, highlighting their applications in underwater and surface environments alike. Specialised sensors can aid in obstacle detection, navigation, data collection (from biogeochemical to physical data), underwater cable detection, and underwater/air offshore maintenance, to mention only several areas of utility, ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of unmanned vehicles in challenging maritime conditions. Integrating advanced sensor technologies improves autonomy, safety, and mission success for unmanned surface and underwater vehicles across diverse applications, including environmental monitoring, surveillance, support to offshore energy facilities, and scientific research.

Dr. Eduardo Silva
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • autonomous vehicles
  • underwater sensors
  • unmanned surface vehicles
  • maritime robotics
  • offshore energy
  • sensor integration
  • sonar technology
  • navigation systems
  • environmental monitoring
  • underwater robotics
  • remote sensing

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 8396 KiB  
Article
Depth Control of an Underwater Sensor Platform: Comparison between Variable Buoyancy and Propeller Actuated Devices
by João Falcão Carneiro, João Bravo Pinto, Fernando Gomes de Almeida and Nuno A. Cruz
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3050; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103050 - 11 May 2024
Viewed by 293
Abstract
Underwater long-endurance platforms are crucial for continuous oceanic observation, allowing for sustained data collection from a multitude of sensors deployed across diverse underwater environments. They extend mission durations, reduce maintenance needs, and significantly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of oceanographic research endeavors. This [...] Read more.
Underwater long-endurance platforms are crucial for continuous oceanic observation, allowing for sustained data collection from a multitude of sensors deployed across diverse underwater environments. They extend mission durations, reduce maintenance needs, and significantly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of oceanographic research endeavors. This paper investigates the closed-loop depth control of actuation systems employed in underwater vehicles, focusing on the energy consumption of two different mechanisms: variable buoyancy and propeller actuated devices. Using a prototype previously developed by the authors, this paper presents a detailed model of the vehicle using both actuation solutions. The proposed model, although being a linear-based one, accounts for several nonlinearities that are present such as saturations, sensor quantization, and the actuator brake model. Also, it allows a simple estimation of the energy consumption of both actuation solutions. Based on the developed models, this study then explores the intricate interplay between energy consumption and control accuracy. To this end, several PID-based controllers are developed and tested in simulation. These controllers are used to evaluate the dynamic response and power requirements of variable buoyancy systems and propeller actuated devices under various operational conditions. Our findings contribute to the optimization of closed-loop depth control strategies, offering insights into the trade-offs between energy efficiency and system effectiveness in diverse underwater applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors for Unmanned Surface/Underwater Vehicles: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Trends)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Sensors, entitled "Sensors for Unmanned Surface/Underwater Vehicles: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Trends", explores the critical role of sensors in enhancing the capabilities of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles. These sensors enable unmanned vehicles to navigate, perceive their surroundings, and precisely execute tasks. This Issue delves into the various types of sensors, such as sonar, cameras, inertial sensors, and EMF sensors, highlighting their applications in underwater and surface environments alike. Specialised sensors can aid in obstacle detection, navigation, data collection (from biogeochemical to physical data), underwater cable detection, and underwater/air offshore maintenance, to mention only several areas of utility, ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of unmanned vehicles in challenging maritime conditions. Integrating advanced sensor technologies improves autonomy, safety, and mission success for unmanned surface and underwater vehicles across diverse applications, including environmental monitoring, surveillance, support to offshore energy facilities, and scientific research.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • autonomous vehicles
  • underwater sensors
  • unmanned surface vehicles
  • maritime robotics
  • offshore energy
  • sensor integration
  • sonar technology
  • navigation systems
  • environmental monitoring
  • underwater robotics
  • remote sensing
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