Abstract

Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) have long promised to revolutionize ocean data acquisition, especially in remote areas. These USVs have generally fallen short of expectations due to their limited range and power, combined with the need to provide substantial support from a ground team or mother ship. Saildrone went back to a tried and true practice for renewable energy propulsion-the wind. As a result, the capability now exists to provide persistent presence for ocean observations, mapping and surveillance without the need for on-scene human support. This talk will review Saildrone, its technology and missions with special emphasis on ocean mapping.

Presenter Bio

Captain Brian Connon, US Navy (Ret) became Vice President, Ocean Mapping at Saildrone, Inc. in December 2020. A certified hydrographer, he holds a BS in Geography from the University of South Carolina, an MS in Oceanography and Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, and an MS in Hydrography from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a Chartered Marine Scientist (Hydrography) and Fellow of the Institute for Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. Brian served for over 28 years as a Navy oceanographer and hydrographer and is passionate about mapping, exploring and protecting our oceans.

Publication Date

4-15-2022

Document Type

Presentation

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