This presentation covers the topic of unmanned marine vehicles and how they can be used to improve the search capability of rescue vessels. It was originally submitted to the International Maritime Rescue Federation as part of the Future Technology Panel.

1. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Unmanned Marine Vehicles
Improving the Search Capability
of Rescue Vessels
Department of Industrial Engineering:
John W. Dalziel, M.Sc., P.Eng., MRINA - Adjunct Professor
President - VR Marine TechnologiesLtd
Ronald Pelot, Ph.D., P.Eng. - Professor

2. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
INTRODUCTION
• The application of 'Unmanned Marine Vehicles to Maritime
Search & Rescue' was presented at the 2nd FTP meeting in
Gothenburg, Sweden, November 22, 2016
• It was reported in the ‘Maritime Executive’:
http://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/unmanned-
vehicles-could-aid-search-and-rescue
• This presentation will look at a specific role – Augmenting the
Search capability of Rescue Vessels.

3. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 1 – Typical SAR Lifeboat – CCGC 'Spindrift' - 15.8 M

4. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
TIME IS THE ENEMY OF US ALL
This is particularly the case for someone in distress in
cold waters.

5. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
SCENARIO (1)
• Work with a 15 – 20m SAR Lifeboat
• Search for missing person(s) (hopefully with flotation and
thermal protection to give reasonable survival time).
• The Unmanned Marine Vehicle (UMV) would be employed
to increase the breadth of the Search Track – thereby
reducing search time for a given area.
• UMV could also search in areas of navigational hazards
which may not safely accessible by the SAR Lifeboat – near
shore, surf, etc.

6. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Scenario (2)
• Search may have restricted visibility conditions. – UMV can
assist by:
• Use of First Person View (FPV) – viewing directly from the
UMV.
• Use of Night Vision (IR) cameras
• May use aerial device (drone / tethered drone / kite /
balloon / other?) to increase breadth of search.
• Aerial device may have significant wind-speed / flight
duration limitations.

7. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Augmenting the search by a SAR Lifeboat
• Figure 2 shows a UMV increasing the breadth of the search
track by a SAR Lifeboat.
• Figure 3 shows the breadth of the search track being
dramatically increased by the addition of an aerial search
device.
• The breadth of the search track is subject to a variety of
limiting factors, but could generally be further increased by
additional UMV / aerial units.

8. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 2 - Search track breadth - Lifeboat &UMV

9. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 3 - Search track breadth with Lifeboat & UMV
Search track breadth with Lifeboat & UMV with Aerial Device

10. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Examples of various Unmanned Marine Vehicles
which may be applicable to the ‘SEARCH’ function
• Figure 4 – a concept of a very small craft which could be
launched from the SAR Lifeboat
• Figures 5 & 6 – Personal Watercraft sized vessels which are,
or could be, equipped for remote control
• Figures 7 – Somewhat larger UMV which could have
additional SAR capabilities
• Figure 8 – Existing vessels can be converted for unmanned
operation.

11. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 4 - Conceptual very small UMV – electric drive

12. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 5 - A medium size UMV (MAPC Garc)

13. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 6 - A medium size potential UMV
(Rescue Runner,SafeatSea AB)

14. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 7 - A larger UMV (ASV Global)

15. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 8 - Conversion of an Existing Craft (ASV Global)

16. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Examples of Aerial Systems
• Figure 9 – Waterproof Drone (IP67 rating; test - immerse in
water up to 1M).
• Figure 10 – Tethered drone; extended flight duration.
• Figure 11 – Kite system on USN experimental unmanned Sub
Chaser.
• Note that each of the available aerial systems may be
subject to various operational restrictions, wind speed &
direction, flight duration.
• Aerial systems may also improve communication range.

17. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 9 - Waterproof Drone (IP67) (Swellpro; 'Splashdrone')

18. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 10 - Tethered Drone (SkySapience)

19. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 11 - Kite (MAPC -Talons Kite system on DARPA’s ‘Sea Hunter’)

20. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
• Figure 12 – Advanced broadband communication system
• Various communication & control systems are available,
ranging from limited short range up to satellite based
systems.
• Reliability, range and cost affect the choice.

21. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Figure 12 – Advanced Communications Systems Available
(Kongsberg Maritime Broadband)

22. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES – SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
CONTACT
John W. Dalziel, M.Sc., P.Eng.
Dept. of Industrial Engineering
Dalhousie University
PO Box 15,000
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3H 4R2
902-817-4119
john.dalziel@dal.ca

23. UNMANNEDMARINEVEHICLES– SAR
IMRF – Future Technology Panel Meeting #3
IJmuiden,NL; March 28, 2017.
Thank you for your attention