C2: Command-Control

Oceanids is working to replace the variety of platform-specific command and control systems with a standard interface for command-control and data processing for fleets of Marine Autonomous Systems (MAS). This underpinning capability provides the ability for scientist’s to view their data and redeploy their MAS assets to target parameters of interest. This intelligent deployment of MAS fleets will deliver the public benefit of reduced cost and carbon footprint data sets, and will offer opportunities to achieve new scientific understanding. The C2 platform is also designed to offer scientists the ability to provide visibility of their deployments to the wider research community and general public, thereby raising awareness of oceanography and demonstrating UK science in action.

The C2 platform has been designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, yet powerful enough to allow operators to create complex mission plans. The platform also offers an automated piloting infrastructure that reduces the piloting load required for missions with the associated cost savings. The development has been undertaken using an agile approach allowing iterative upgrades to the system to be released throughout the project duration that will progressively be made available to the wider UK community for piloting and monitoring of autonomous assets. This approach allows for the rapid development of automated piloting routines and integration of third-party piloting algorithms for applications using a variety of vehicle types.

The Oceanids C2 workflow for near-real-time data from gliders and recovery data from Autosub Long Range became operational in 2019, including delivery of open data via the web. The system has already been demonstrated in real-world settings including: delivering funded science on the AlterEco project, enabling the Oceanids Sensors trials and a commercial technology demonstration and supporting the Hecla project to develop the Royal Navy’s environmental observing capabilities.

Work Package Lead