NURC participates in local activities
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20 April 2011 -- NURC continues to be involved in local scientific activities for the public. In addition to participating in "Sea Future", the International Naval and Maritime Innovations Exhibition held in La Spezia on 13-15 October 2010, the Centre recently took part in Un Mare di Scienza ("A Sea of Science"), which offers lessons to students about marine science. In March, two classes from local schools attended lessons given by Dr. Walter Zimmer, scientist at NURC. |
NURC hosts Real Deal workshop
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14 April 2011 -- NURC hosted the Real Deal experiment team for an analyst workshop, 7-8 April 2011. The goal of the workshop was to help esperiment participants finalize the contents of Real Deal reports. The Real Deal experiment, conducted last October, tested optical and acoustic warning technologies. NURC contributed with its expertise in acoustic and laser devices, which was developed during several port and harbour protection trials. The experiment was a result of a NATO panel on "Capability Based Evaluation of Non-Lethal Weapons". |
NURC gliders used in Proud Manta 11
| 17 February 2011 -- Three NURC gliders participated for the first time in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise. During Proud Manta 11, NURC successfully used the gliders to collect in situ, three-dimensional environmental data to support improved operational planning and decision-making tools. For 18 days the gliders operated autonomously, sending data every three hours through an Iridium satellite link back to a command and control room at NURC. The data was used by analysts in decision tools to support exercise planners. Read more ... |
SAUC-E Competition Returns
30 June 2011 -- Ten teams from the UK, France, Germany and Spain will converge at the Centre from 4-10 July to compete for this year's Student Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge-Europe (SAUC-E). Each team has designed and built an AUV that they will use to complete a mission in a realistic environment at NURC's harbour. SAUC-E encourages students to think about underwater technology and related applications while fostering innovation and technology, getting young engineers and scientists to consider careers in the field. SAUC-E 2011 is the second consecutive competition hosted by NURC, who will host SAUC-E again in 2012. According to NURC Director, Dr. Dirk Tielbuerger, "We want to be involved in providing students with the opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges of underwater technologies, and to nurture interest in this area of research". For more information, see www.sauc-europe.org.
Join the JANUS discussion
15 December 2010 -- NURC researchers involved in underwater communications recently created a wiki site for those interested in contributing to, and/or following, the development of JANUS. JANUS is a simple, robust signaling method for underwater communication that has been developed at NURC with the collaboration of academia, industry and government with the intention that it should be freely distributed and available to all. For more information go to the JANUS wiki website
Experts examine new technologies in maritime security
10 November 2010 -- More than 120 maritime security professionals gathered at the 2nd international WaterSide Security Conference 2010 (WSS2010) to review emerging maritime technologies and best practices in a wide range of areas, including counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, protection of high profile events and maritime surveillance. The conference was organised by NURC. Read more
SAUC-E programme received the
J. Guy Reynolds Memorial/MAST Award
9 November 2010 -- NURC was presented with the J. Guy Reynolds Memorial/MAST Award at the MAST (Maritime Systems and Technology) 2010 Conference and Exhibition in Rome next month, in support of the Student Autonomous Underwater Challenge-Europe (SAUC-E) programme. SAUC-E started in 2006 to encourage young engineers and scientists to think about underwater technology and future possibilities, and to foster ties between the students and the organizations involved in underwater robotic technologies. NURC organized the 2010 SAUC-E event, and has agreed to host the event in 2011 and 2012. The award is part of the MAST educational outreach initative, "to provide an educational opportunity, allowing younger scientists and engineers to learn and work with the most senior leaders in the community".
NURC participates in SEA FUTURE
13 October 2010 -- SEA FUTURE 2010 International Naval & Maritime Innovations Exhibition in La Spezia officially opens today. SEA FUTURE provides opportunities for companies, research centres and universities in maritime, naval, shipbuilding and related technologies to connect with each other. The Centre is one of five research organisations who are engaged in maritime activities in the Gulf of La Spezia. Several international companies are also present at the event. Selected equipment used by NURC researchers to monitor the maritime environment in both deep and coastal waters are on display at the Exhibition. Also on display is an ROV created by a participant of the Sea Perch programme conducted this summer during the Student AUV Challenge Europe competition, to emphasize the educational outreach activities of the Centre.
Expo area showing equipment used to take oceanographic measurements at various depths of the ocean: From right, Rosette Sampler (NURC), SLOCUM glider (NURC), Gravimeter (INGV), Acoustic buoy (Italian Navy), Gravity corer (ENEA). Far right: Sea Perch ROV on display at the NURC stand.
Recent developments in thin towed arrays
22 July 2010 -- NURC engineers recently developed a thin array 18mm in diameter which is capable of being towed by small AUVs and gliders. The slim BENS array, besides being able to reduce drag due to the small array diameter, was specifically designed for low power consumption which is critical for its integration with small vehicles that have limited power availability. Array power consumption was reduced to 0.7W, compared to the traditional NURC array which consumes 9.5W. The fully built array will be extensively tested at sea this summer.