Project Summary

The primary project objective is to deliver a feasibility study for docking stations that allows Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to autonomously dock and recharge their battery systems without human intervention. Leveraging recent advancements in Remote Operations Centres (ROCs), the project aims to overcome operational bottlenecks related to “hands-on” launch, recovery and charging procedures. The key innovation lies in combining remote-operation capabilities with docking stations that use self-contained renewable energy generation and wireless-charging infrastructure to support resident USV systems. Whilst initially supported on resident USV systems for operations within seaports, the applicants envision a pathway for renewable energy and aquaculture solutions.

Project Achievements

The feasibility study involved conducting a requirements analysis through team workshops to draft specifications; developing and refining design concepts for the docking system; performing hydrostatic simulations to assess stability, buoyancy, and dimensions; and calculating initial parameters for solar energy capture and electrical storage. The study also included preliminary structural specifications and actuation equipment details, as well as a basic failure modes and effects analysis. These activities provided a comprehensive evaluation of the technical viability of the solution.

Conclusions

The feasibility study confirmed that the docking and charging concept for Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) is both viable and promising, especially for remote locations. The project has set the stage for a follow-on project that aims to enhance the concept through a 10x funding boost through collaborative R&D. The focal point of onward intellectual property development is the charging and latching mechanism which we anticipate will realise a proprietary solution that uniquely addresses the challenges uncovered within our experimentation.

Next Steps

In 2025, we will test a scale prototype of our innovative docking and charging system for Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) in a harbour environment. This scale prototype will allow us to validate key aspects of the design, including the docking mechanism, charging system, and overall system integration in a realistic setting. The prototype will be deployed in Dartmouth providing a live environment will help us refine the design and address any issues before scaling up. Parallel to this testing, we will continue developing a larger docking station platform tailored for HydroSurv’s full-scale vessel systems. This larger platform will incorporate insights gained from the scale prototype, focusing on scaling up the design while maintaining functionality and efficiency.