What is an Autonomous Surface Vessel?
An autonomous surface vessel (ASV) is an unmanned boat designed to operate on water without a crew onboard. It may rely on a combination of sensors such as Global Positioning System (GPS), radar, cameras, LIDAR, sonar, and inertial measurement units (IMU) to perceive and interpret its environment.
Sensor data is processed by onboard computers that use algorithms to make decisions about navigation, steering, speed control, and collision avoidance. Depending on the mission, the ASV can either follow a pre-programmed route, adapt dynamically to real-time conditions, or receive remote instructions from an operator via wireless communication.
ASVs are applied in a wide range of fields, including environmental monitoring (e.g., collecting water quality data or tracking pollution), seabed mapping, harbor and offshore infrastructure inspection, cargo transport, and scientific research. Their autonomous operation reduces risk to human crews, lowers operational costs, and increases efficiency in repetitive, hazardous, or long-duration missions. This makes them an important tool for both commercial and scientific maritime operations.
