NOAA Ocean Exploration and Fugro have signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to develop and use uncrewed systems for ocean exploration to enhance the efficiency, reach and impact of NOAA’s mission to explore the deep ocean.
This collaboration unites NOAA’s scientific and operational excellence with Fugro’s cutting-edge technological expertise to expand ocean exploration capabilities. By focusing on uncrewed systems, such as uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), autonomous undersea vehicles and electric remotely operated vehicles, the partnership will make ocean exploration more cost-effective and accessible to scientists nationwide.
The agreement focuses on the key objectives of seeking better ways to operate ocean exploration missions using remote technology, developing tools that enable scientists to control underwater robots in real-time from distant locations, and creating new sensors that can aid in environmental baseline studies, including the observation of critical minerals.
This agreement also enables NOAA and Fugro to coordinate on the use of ships, USVs, underwater devices and buoys that transmit data. Together, NOAA and Fugro plan to advance remote mission control, develop cloud-based workflows and improve real-time data delivery through high-bandwidth communications.
“NOAA Ocean Exploration is on a mission to accelerate the scope, pace and precision of ocean mapping and characterization, and this strategic partnership will help us do exactly that,” said NOAA Corps Capt. William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration. “By enabling remote operations and enhancing the use of innovative technologies, we can reduce costs and expand our reach, unlocking the ocean’s potential at a scale and speed needed to keep pace with America’s growing demands for ocean resources and information.”
The CRADA outlines a plan for joint technical workshops focused on launching mutually beneficial projects. These may include demonstrations of digital workflows, the development of new sensor technologies, assessment of cloud-based data integration to support habitat mapping, the observation of critical minerals and other mission-critical objectives.
“We’re entering an exciting new era of deep ocean mapping, one where data can be collected and delivered without a single person at sea,” said Céline Gerson, Fugro’s group director for the Americas and president of Fugro USA. “Our more than 25-year collaboration with NOAA has paved the way for this progress. From introducing remote survey operations on crewed vessels to advancing fully remote, cloud-connected systems, we’re proud to help NOAA shape the future of ocean science through innovation and shared purpose.”
Fugro’s extensive experience operating uncrewed vehicles, providing data services and remotely managing offshore systems and assets makes it a valuable partner for NOAA as they explore previously unexplored or poorly explored areas of the deep ocean. While Fugro and NOAA Ocean Exploration will develop specific projects together in the coming months, the CRADA lays the groundwork for ongoing collaboration and innovation between the public and private sectors.
This CRADA reflects NOAA Ocean Exploration’s broader mission to unlock the mysteries of the deep ocean and enable the sustainable use of marine resources through partnerships, technology and scientific discovery.
