Low cost USV development to study spring ponds

Abstract

Current practices in bathymetry survey in lakes (available method) are indeed having some limitations. As for instance the size of the equipment that has to be transported and then deployed in the lake. New technologies such as using USV (Uncrewed Surface Vessel or Unmanned Surface Vehicle) start to be common. As they are easy to transport, high manoeuvrability and permit to work in less than 1-m-deep water masses. A quite wide commercial offer has been developed for many uses but as this equipment do not have a high demand, it has a high cost. The USV uses in harbours and open marine waters is quite straightforward because the good visibility and easy access permit rescues of the USV in case of malfunction. Lake surveys have the problem of the densely vegetated margins, riparian vegetation, and sometimes also with floating natural/or rubbish elements. Commonly the survey is tracked away from the margins to avoid the possible problems, that in case of occur are major issues (rescue this non-cheap equipment). In these scenarios it is needed to stablish some rescue protocols as, for instance a robe to the USV to pull, or transport a rescue boat to be sure to recover the equipment.