Australian Maritime College to Build AUV Research Base
Australian Maritime College (AMC) at the University of Tasmania plans to build a new $750,000-facility dedicated to development of underwater robotic technologies.
AMC’s autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) facility will be home to a fleet of robots used to survey the ocean’s depths and collect scientific data on research missions.
“This is an exciting new development for AMC, the University and the state of Tasmania. It will be unique within Australia and one of just a handful of comparable facilities globally, allowing us to be on the cutting-edge of research in this field,” AMC Principal Professor, Neil Bose, said.
“Building our underwater robotic research capabilities not only enhances our reputation on the international stage, it also helps stimulate the local economy through the recruitment of specialist personnel and the use of a local architectural firm and other related industries.”
Five new staff members have been recruited to help run the facility, including facility coordinator Peter King, lab manager Alfian Marzuki and engineers Isak Bowden-Floyd, Nathan Kemp and Konrad Zurcher.
“This facility will be a hub for world-class AUV research and technology. Through local and international collaborations, we aim to develop new data collection capabilities, improve reliability and increase autonomy of underwater vehicles,” AUV facility coordinator, Peter King, said.
“One of these projects, the Antarctic Gateway Partnership, will see us acquire and develop an AUV that tackles the great engineering challenges of venturing far beneath ice-covered waters to further our understanding of the Antarctic’s role in the world’s climate.”
The facility’s fleet of autonomous robots includes UBC-Gavia, Mullaya and the soon-to-be-procured Antarctic Gateway Partnership AUV.
The $24-million Antarctic Gateway Partnership is a Special Research Initiative of the Australian Research Council bringing together the University of Tasmania, CSIRO and the Australian Antarctic Division to build further polar research capability in Tasmania as a gateway for Antarctic research, education, innovation and logistics. The Antarctic Gateway Partnership has contributed $3.6 million in funding for the new AUV and four of the new staff positions, with a further $3.75 million and one staff position contributed by AMC.
Launceston firm Artas Architects were tasked with designing a facility big enough to accommodate the Antarctic Gateway Partnership AUV, which will measure up to 8 metres long, weigh 3 tonnes and be capable of transiting more than 100 kilometres while collecting data from the sea floor at depths of about 4000-5000m, and beneath ice shelves and sea ice.
Artas principal, Heath Clayton, said: “We’ve been able to take a simple storage area that was largely unused and convert it into a contemporary research facility utilising modern building products. The design of the building, its colour and materials, complements the other structures in the area while still maintaining its own identity.”
Building works are expected to be completed in late 2016.
Source: AMC
