Fugro is integrating AML Oceanographic’s Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) into its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) platform to advance its autonomous survey capabilities.
The transition to a USV platform represents a natural progression for Fugro, which already possesses extensive experience operating MVP systems on conventional, crewed survey vessels. These systems are designed to collect high-resolution water column data without requiring the vessel to stop or interrupt ongoing survey operations. This capability is particularly critical for uncrewed deployments, where efficiency and consistency are primary operational requirements.
Wim Herijgers, Group Director of Strategy and Transformation, commented, “MVP has been a reliable part of our survey operations for years. Integrating it into our USV platform allows us to maintain data quality while moving toward more autonomous workflows.”
The technical integration focuses on ensuring the MVP remains fully compatible with the USV’s remote operation and deployment systems. The goal is to maintain the same level of performance expected from crewed vessels while operating in a remote environment.
Pete Reedeker, VP of Deployment Systems at AML Oceanographic, added, “Autonomous platforms require systems that can operate reliably with minimal intervention. MVP is built for continuous, automated profiling, which makes it a strong fit for this type of application.”
By automating the profiling process, the integrated system supports the specialized needs of autonomous platforms that prioritize streamlined, low-intervention data collection. Initial testing and deployment activities for the integrated USV platform are scheduled to take place throughout 2019.
