MISSION: WATER 12 SURFACE WATER What types of data were these early vehicles collecting? And for what purpose? Kevin: It depends on the application of course, but in the ocean, for instance, some of the big parameters of interest are temperature, conductivity, pH, and others. Even early on, the goal was to capture the data not only at the water’s surface but often below it as well. Most of the initial unmanned vessels were somewhat rudimentary and measured only a few water parameters.They propelled themselves using natural forces like currents, thermoclines, and so forth.These days we've vastly improved the propulsion technology to provide a little more of the horsepower needed to go on longer, guided missions versus letting Mother Nature lead the way. Compared to the early days, what advancements have developers made recently to enhance this technology for monitoring water bodies? Geoff: The older [hydrographic] sensor systems were designed to be deployed from large research vessels, rather than to be self- contained. Our challenge as engineers has been to leave the ship behind by integrating power-hungry devices like sensors and GPS directly onto the vehicle itself. It’s taken decades, but the Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV), Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), drone, and Automobile Autonomy industries have pushed the boundaries of what we can power on an increasingly smaller system. Automation is a disrupting force throughout the world, impacting our lives and creating a new normal for generations to come. We sat down with industry experts to discuss automated vehicles for monitoring water quality and quantity – and the impact on the environmental community. When did companies create the first automated vehicle for environmental monitoring? And what were its capabilities when the technology was in its infancy? Geoff: While the use of automated vehicles in water is becoming more and more widespread these days, the technology dates back as early as WWII. Starting in the 90’s, there were research projects that depended almost exclusively on grant funding. Universities like MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) put their blood, sweat, and tears into this work, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s when the research got to a place where engineers could apply it to the real world. Since then there have been numerous SBIR projects (Small Business Innovation Research) funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as various international organizations, and heavy investment by companies to help push automated vehicle technology forward in the water industry. But I would say in the beginning, these were really just remote control, RC-type vehicles used for relatively simple tasks. THE FUTURE OF MONITORING An Interview with Industry Experts Kevin Simpson, Xylem Director of Systems Engineering, and Geoff Douglass, SeaRobotics Product Development Manager MISSION: WATER STAFF