International Scientists Showcase New Advanced Technology at Galway’s SmartBay Observatory

5th November 2021

The YUCO micro-AUV from French company SEABER is designed for collecting oceanographic data in coastal environments Credit: JERICORI/Twitter

An international team of scientists has demonstrated new advanced underwater technology for ocean observation at the SmartBay Observatory in Galway Bay this week.

French company SEABER demonstrated the YUCO micro-AUV (or micro autonomous underwater vehicle) — an unmanned, untethered vehicle that collects oceanographic data in coastal environments. This data is important for monitoring our marine environment and changing ocean climate.

The SmartBay Observatory is one of Ireland’s national marine scientific research facilities, providing national and international researchers with the infrastructure to validate new marine sensors and instruments in real sea conditions.

Alan Berry, manager of marine research infrastructures at the Marine Institute, said: “The SmartBay Observatory is used to validate new sensor technologies, such as SEABER’s innovative and affordable micro-AUV system.

“New marine sensor technologies increase the accessibility and availability of data for organisations monitoring our oceans and in turn contributes globally to our deeper understanding of the oceans.”

?French company #SEABER, demonstrated the YUCO micro-AUV, a micro Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, which is an unmanned, untethered vehicle that collects #oceanographic data in coastal environments at the @SmartBaySite in #GalwayBay. @JERICORI

?https://t.co/ktMAfWKZuj pic.twitter.com/7lrThpc8wh
— Marine Institute (@MarineInst) November 5, 2021

SEABER were successful through the EU JERICO-RI European Infrastructure JERICO-S3 Access Programme to utilise the SmartBay Observatory in Galway Bay.

Over the coming months, the observatory will facilitate a further four international science projects demonstrating novel and improved sensor technologies on this unique Irish research infrastructure towards the common goal of improving data collection for marine and climate observations.

Michael Gillooly, interim CEO at the Marine Institute, said: “By facilitating advanced ocean monitoring technologies, the SmartBay Observatory helps to take concepts and prototypes from laboratories into the sea.

“New marine monitoring technologies and sensors generate more data than we have ever had before, improving our ocean observation capabilities and increasing our ocean knowledge.”

For more information visit www.smartbay.ie, @SmartBaySite on Twitter and @SmartBaySite on Facebook. For more about the JERICO-S3 access programme, see the project website.

The JERICO-S3 project received funding from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreements No 871153.

Published in Marine Science

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SmartBay

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