glider management and networks
The overall concept underpinning the BRIDGES project is that the most efficient and effective approach for long-term monitoring and exploration of vast underwater regions is through a network of autonomous and relatively low-cost underwater platforms. The networking paradigm is already transforming scientific ocean observations from ship-based to networks of robotic systems.
BRIDGES will develop innovative techniques of data sampling and of glider behaviour depending on data collected, type of missions or environmental constraints. To achieve this, a software system layer will be developed to integrate fleets of gliders - being the sensing component - into a service oriented system. This system layer will manage the metocean and maritime traffic information impacting the gliders' operation to assess the feasibility of the required service by a fleet of gliders and to allow easy configuration of the missions. At this stage, a fleet of gliders equipped with relevant sensors will act as an integrated system operating at the required location and time to deliver the required service. With such an approach, scientists, governmental agencies and regulators, as well as commercial bodies could remotely operate an in-situ sensing system, rather than individual platforms with their own operating constraints.