PLOCAN served as the venue for the integration and validation of a new generation of oceanographic sensors developed by the partners of the European GEORGE project, using two of its unique facilities—the VIMAS fleet of autonomous vehicles and the test site—and in collaboration with leading companies in the sector.
The activity is framed in the WP3 Innovative Communication Solutions and WP5 Implementation and Demonstration of the Solutions work packages. It consists of integrating and sea-testing new-generation acoustic transmission sensors (devices that send and receive sound waves underwater to transmit data) designed by the company Wsense. Wsense collaborates with Clear Water Sensor, which provides pH sensors (devices that measure the acidity or alkalinity of water) as a data source. Both companies are partners in the project.
In a first phase, sensors have been integrated into the AutoNaut autonomous surface vehicle of PLOCAN’s VIMAS fleet, and a validation mission will then be undertaken in the PLOCAN test site area.
This mission aims to validate surface operation of the node (acoustic modem and pH sensor) on the PLOCAN USV, confirming it can receive instructions and transmit data acoustically. The feasibility of transmitting collected data via the Wsense IOUT (Internet of Underwater Things) system will also be validated.
Next, a gateway will be installed on PLOCAN’s offshore platform, and two similar nodes will be anchored to verify the maximum data transmission range and real-time cloud processing.
The GEORGE project (Next generation multiplatform Ocean observing technologies for Research infrastructures) has a duration of 36 months and is funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe program (Grant Agreement ID: 101094716). PLOCAN has funding of € 138,750.00.
