Plymouth is set to become home to a real-world testing and demonstration environment that will significantly boost what the city can offer businesses and researchers in underwater innovation, marine autonomy and ocean sensing.
Through an array of nodes positioned on the seabed, the SSCS system enables real-time tracking and telemetry for deployed payloads, autonomous platforms, and subsea technologies.
This will allow scientists and businesses to conduct trials of navigation, communication, sensing, and data transfer systems under operational marine conditions.
The new system also endeavours to serve as an early step towards permanent subsea infrastructure capable of overcoming the persistent challenges in underwater technology, namely knowing exactly where something is and communicating with it without a physical cable.
The development of SSCS has been achieved through a three-year £1.2million project led by the University of Plymouth in partnership with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), and delivered by underwater technology and engineering company Sonardyne.
It combines the organisations’ expertise in developing, deploying and operating novel marine technologies to deliver real-world ocean intelligence.
It also enhances the city’s reputation as a global leader in marine autonomous systems, something evidenced through its recent designation as the UK’s National Centre for Marine Autonomy.
Dr Lilian Lieber
Mr Aaron Barrett
