Research and Development Efforts into Underwater Robotics System & Technology in Malaysia
par Associate Prof. Dr Mohd Rizal Arshad, Underwater Robotics Research Group (URRG), University Sains Malaysia (USM)

le mardi 28 septembre de 10h à 12h
Salle des séminaires du LIRMM

Résumé
The oceans are is the next ‘real’ frontiers. The depletion of land resources for energy, food and other human needs make the oceans an obvious option for the future, for many nations, if not to mankind as a whole. As a fact, some countries have already initiated this important endeavor. By spending and investing in technology and tools development for oceans exploration, a number of developed nations are paving the way for proper and sustainable exploitation of the shared marine resources. One major determinant in any ocean exploration mission is the chosen technology which would be utilized. The chosen ocean exploration technology can ‘make’ or ‘break’ any sea-going missions. It will also determine the extent of any form of monitoring, measurement, sampling or potential discoveries. Examples of such technologies are the development of intelligent underwater vehicles platform (ROVs, AUV or Hybrids), underwater acoustics for sensing and communication, underwater imaging techniques, sub-sea structures design and efficient power management.

Successful ocean exploration, nonetheless, does not depend solely on the existing technical capability of the respective country. It also depends to the growing capacity in terms of research and development in the appropriate technology, and supporting infrastructure, especially involving rules and regulations regarding oceans-related instruments and equipment. Ocean explorations also pose a number of challenges, such as technical limitations, uncertainty of action in disputed waters, the impact on environment, possible return of investment for the tools/equipment at the development stage, and apathy to the importance of ocean explorations. These challenges can only be tackled in a holistic approach. The modular nature of any underwater system for ocean explorations can easily mislead the researchers. The modules must not be judged independently, but as a functional working of a complete ocean exploration set-up or must be judged upon by their systemic behavior.

Malaysia is a country with large coastal zones, inhabited by a myriad of marine organisms and biological systems, situated on a large area of continental shelf. Hence, our research group (URRG) is putting all the efforts to develop an array of underwater-related technology for the marine resources inspection and monitoring. The purpose of this presentation is to share the research and development activities for marine/ underwater applications currently conducted in URRG-USM, and to seek possible research partnership and collaborations.