Autonomous Marine Monitoring Vessel (AMMV) Project
ABB, Västerås, Sweden (2019)
Role:
Lead Mechanical Engineer
Tools/Technologies used:
SolidWorks, ANSYS, MATLAB, CNC, 3D printing
Duration:
10 months
Team size:
12
Project Objective
The main ambition of the AMMV project was to engineer an autonomous vessel tailored for marine ecosystem monitoring. The vessel was designed to operate with minimal ecological disruption, ensuring a sustainable approach to marine data collection.
Process & Challenges
Initiating the project involved an intensive brainstorming phase to define the mechanical prerequisites of the vessel, ensuring it could withstand varying aquatic conditions. Collaborating closely with marine biologists, we identified the specifics required for non-invasive ecosystem monitoring. As the project advanced, our team faced challenges related to integrating the mechanical and software components, ensuring seamless autonomous navigation and data transmission. Another significant hurdle was ensuring that the vessel's propulsion design would indeed cause minimal disturbances to aquatic life.
Outcomes & Impact
Successful tests of the AMMV in diverse aquatic scenarios, from serene lakes to turbulent coastal regions, marked the project's culmination. The vessel's innovative propulsion mechanism ensured that marine life disturbances were kept to a bare minimum. Furthermore, its ability to relay real-time data to our monitoring hubs significantly improved data accuracy and reduced the need for post-mission analysis. This pioneering endeavor has set a gold standard for subsequent marine robotics projects at ABB and has garnered interest from global environmental research entities.
Conclusion & Learnings
The AMMV project underscored the transformative impact of converging technology with purpose. A salient learning from this initiative was the significance of cross-disciplinary collaboration when addressing such a multifaceted challenge. This experience also magnified the necessity for adaptability and innovation, particularly when developing solutions that serve both technological and environmental imperatives.