Unmanned Vessels for Marine Mammal Research

Scott Duncan, Stefanie Hawks-Johnson (University of Washington), Mike Dougherty, Dave Bain, (University of Washington), Jonathon King

Unmanned vessels can improve the volume, continuity and quality of data collection while opening the door for new research objectives. They provide distinct advantage in applications where the use of human operators become dangerous, expensive or disturbing to marine mammals. They can also provide long term and long distance remote data collection and are robust to extreme environments. Several vessels together can be uses as an accurate and efficient dynamic positioning array. Combined with two-way communication, unmanned vessels can report images or sensor readings in real-time.

Currently a small, unmanned catamaran is being used by University of Washington researchers into the foraging behavior of the Southern Resident population of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Washington State. The vessel is fitted with a fish-finder, data logging electronics, and remote control radio equipment. It is deployed from a research vessel and used for closer, non-invasive approaches to the whales.

The research team is using the vessel to collect sonar images in close proximity to the whales. A wireless connection allows a computer on board the research vessel to see the sonar images in real-time and allows the fish-finder's range and gain to be manipulated.

The sonar images will be cross-referenced with digital video observations to better determine foraging behavior and provide insight into the population decline of the Southern Resident orca. Current plans are underway to attach an underwater camera to the small catamaran to obtain visual images when possible.