Past Projects (Funded)

With the increase of marine activity, protecting marine infrastructures from terrorist threats has become a main concern. We develop and demonstrate a novel prototype for reliable, real-time detection of diver and mines. Our system combines acoustic remote detection with verification using pattern recognition on underwater imagery. First, we analyse the acoustic reflections to localize a target that fits the pattern of a diver or a submerged mine. Then, in case the release or presence of a mine is suspected, a vehicle is dispatched to first inspect the target through its optical and sonar systems, and then to send the processed information back through underwater acoustic communication.

The aim of this project is to enable the integration of new nodes into an existing IoUT network without the control overhead of typical state-of-the-art solutions. The proposed solution is based on the capability of a joining node to incorporate local topology and schedule information into a probabilistic model that allows it to choose when to join the network to minimize the expected number of collisions.

We consider the challenge of tracking and estimating the size of a single submerged target in a high reverberant underwater environment using a single active acoustic transceiver. We perform probabilistic tracking using a constraint Viterbi algorithm, whereby detection is determined based on maximum likelihood criterion. In this process, we use the expectation-maximization (EM) approach to manage stationary reflections through distribution analysis, which otherwise may be misidentified as targets.

The main aim of the suggested cruise would be to develop methodologies for seabed surveying in search for historical and archaeological findings. This encompasses the usages of underwater vehicles and the exploration of the marine fauna. The search will be done by means of underwater vehicles and SCUBA divers, and will also involve exploration of the sediments on top of the wreck and around it, characterization of its degradation and the marine bio-environment.

Although site-attached fish can be expected to increase in abundance in marine protected areas (MPAs), there is little known about recruitment effects. The present work reviews concepts and field evidence for enhancement of recruitment of species in MPAs, focusing geographically on the Mediterranean littoral because of its long history of intensive fishery exploitation, but drawing on evidence from studies on recruitment processes in general on MPAs both in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. We considered recruitment as the process of a fish being added to the local population. The general questions of interest are whether the increase in biomass of species protected in MPAs has an effect on recruitment in the MPAs or in neighbouring areas, and, on competition and predation effects on new recruits.

The periodic calibration and testing of acoustic sensors, often involve extensive measurements in acoustic tanks. These are usually small facilities whose boundaries are covered with phono-absorption material to suppress reflections. In this project, we describe a novel design of an acoustic tank whose absorption characteristics are made adjustable. Inspired by Origami paper folding, this is achieved by changing the shape of the absorption plates with a single degree of freedom.