The main objective of this project is to define and develope the hardware, software, and data processing equipment and tools for conducting acoustic and visual imaging surveys and inspections under water in shallow estuary and coastal water environments.

The project aims to adapt tools for unmanned surface and underwater vehicles (SUVs and ROVs) to conduct automated acoustic and visual imaging inspections of predefined water transects and marine infrastructures in shallow waters. The tools include SUV and ROV operation, sonar data analysis, image analysis, unmanned navigation tools, and power supply systems suitable for extending mission duration, as well as cooperation between unmanned surface and underwater vehicles.

The main innovations within the proposal are the development of hardware and software to analyze acoustic imaging data obtained from sonar and to use image tilt information to improve the identification of rocky bottom features; the provision of PLC power to ROVs to reduce submarine cable cross-sections; and the development of tools for cooperative operation between ROVs and SUVs.