Autonomous Surface Vehicles as Positioning and Communications Satellites for the Marine Operational Environment — Step toward Internet of Underwater Things

Positioning, Navigation and Communication on land would be very difficult and nowadays unimaginable without satellite communication networks. The situation underwater is much more complex due to high attenuation of radio waves. Moreover, due to the different nature of communication above and underwater, facilitation of relevant data flow between these environments requires existence of some kind of communication hub. Idea of replicating concept of positioning/communication satellites able to play both roles simultaneously to set up Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT), is therefore, worth considering. In light of this idea, the University of Zagreb developed a oneman portable autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) with suitable lightweight localization and communication payload. This paper describes an ASV and its role as a satellite for the underwater environment and implementation of IoUT. The paper elaborates three real applications: support to diving operations where a diver tracking and communication link to diving tablet ensures multifunctional support to the diver, i.e. diver following, monitoring, assistance, and improved safety of the diver; support to Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) operations by allowing real-time remote access to underwater measurements and vehicle status and by extending AUV subsea deployment substantially by correcting the dead reckoning navigation error; underwater wireless sensor networks aided by swarm of ASVs for data forwarding, localisation, recharging and deployment under different environmental conditions.