SEABER, working with CNRS-LEMAR et MARBEC, is set to take part in the France 2030 plan with the SEAMAP Project.
SEABER aims to move away from the costly and bulky technologies currently used in ocean mapping. Its flagship project entails the assembly of ten micro-autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to form a fleet, each armed with a unique set of sensors.
These sensors include environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers, passive acoustic monitoring systems, CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) probes, magnetometers, and side-scan sonars. These will collectively enable the large-scale mapping and characterization of biodiversity on the ocean floor.
The micro-AUVs will form a swarm, collaboratively sharing knowledge and data. The vehicles will navigate with pinpoint accuracy to ensure that data collected is precisely mapped to its source, enhancing the reliability of findings.
The AUVs will also possess the endurance to traverse substantial distances, with up to 500km per mission, and will reportedly reduce mission costs by up to five times.
The company is currently developing wider technologies for ocean exploration, such as:
- 3D Spatialization of Measurements (Water Column Structure)
- Fine-scale Mapping of Deep Benthic Habitats
- Non-intrusive Sampling for Biodiversity
- Passive Listening to Acoustic Landscapes (PAM)
SEABER will also develop CARTHA, an online service with a web interface, to bring together the data obtained by the micro-UAVs. This platform will serve as a hub for gathering and sharing geo-referenced oceanographic data obtained from the fleet of underwater micro-drones.
SEABER is setting out to develop novel tools and methodologies that enable the mass exploration of the seabed, in both marine biology and ecology. The project is funded by the French government through the France 2030 program.
The company aims to deploy thousands of high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective micro AUVs. SEABER will conduct future expeditions to remote and challenging locales, including Saint Pierre et Miquelon and Antarctica, to trial its technologies.
