Ocius’ submarine-detection drone BlueBottle is an unmanned surface vessel (USV) that also has implications for the use of solar, wind and wave power in shipping of the future. War is the father of all things, a proverb says – why not of the effective use of alternative power sources in the maritime industry? HANSA talked to Ocius-CEO Robert Dane
The Bluebottle uses sun, wind and wave energy – how does it work?
Robert Dane: It is a self[ds_preview] contained monohull with a folding solar sail which folds onto the deck in high winds and waves and a forward rudder with a wave oscillator. The main aim is to take a substantial payload of at least 100kg, power it and roam at five to 6kn indefinitely with a »meaningful speed of advance« in all conditions at all times.
How did you get into solar-powered ships and drones?
Dane: I grew up in Australia in and around the sea, »mucking about in boats«. M y father and uncle both started their careers in the Navy, my uncle running a ferry service between Melbourne and King Island. However, my dream was to be a country doctor and thanks to great teachers and peers, by the age of 28, I was practicing obstetrics and anesthetics in Milton, New South Wales. At 38 with my young family, I watched a solar boat race on Lake Burley Griffin thinking: why can’t we combine solar and wind to power a boat? I patented the »Solar Sail« technology and built a prototype, which won the race in 1997. In 2000, we formed the Solar Sailor Company and launched a 100 passenger ferry, which won the Australian Design Award of the Year.
In 2008, I was approached by the US Navy, which asked for a self-sustaining platform that could be at sea forever. Further Requirements: 10 W onboard power for seven days with no sun, minimum, 40 W average and 400 W maximum.
Currently we are working on a 5.6m BlueBottle for the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group to fit a Thales Australia thin line array to demonstrate it to Navy doing Anti sub warfare.
Can commercial shipbuilding and operation – manned or unmanned – benefit from your research and development work?
Dane: We are implementing and testing control of firstly individuals – each has four algorithms running on board simply described as »Skipper«, »Navigator«, »Communications« and »Engineer« – so yes this has implications for manned and unmanned commercial shipping. Then we are also researching and developing with the University of New south Wales fleet control, i.e. one human or an »Admiral« safely on shore, controlling a fleet of hundreds of unmanned ships.
What ship types and sizes could use the technology?
Dane: Initially bulkers and tankers, as speeds of twelve to 14kn are perfect for sailing. Container ships go too fast at 20knots – so it is always a head wind. Cruises ship operators don’t like to heel. Right now for bulkers and tankers wind assistance would be a nice-to-have »green« fuel saving feature but not essential and it increases capital cost which has to have a return on investment. Plus there are business barriers – e.g. in the tanker business often the oil company pays for the fuel or gives it for free and in the bulker business the charterer pays for fuel not the owner.
But with drones it is a business case. At the cost of one ship, you can have 300 drones. Capital and operating costs are low, you don’t need fuel, crew or supplies, no one is in harm’s way. In fact, for unmanned drones, to stay to sea indefinitely, it is essential to use the energy of the surface of the ocean: solar, wind, waves. So it is a must-have game changing capability.
Do you already have plans for larger applications on your desk?
Dane: The main focus for us right now is our BlueBottle Unmanned Surface Vessels for hydrography and defence. It could also be deployed in the oil and gas sector for security. Hydrographic tasks, mapping pipelines etc. are currently done with manned ships. A drone can be out there for months. It can rest and recharge and then carry on. In 2017, there will be a demonstrator project with a European oil and gas service provider.
Do you see unmanned surveillance also as a solution for operations such as piloting and maritime safety in crowded sea traffic areas?
Dane: I think it would be possible to take on local situational awareness tasks, monitor ship movements, currents, conditions etc. and share that with manned and unmanned vessels in the area.
What is the time horizon for feasible solar applications in the commercial sector?
Dane: As solar only supplies 2-3% savings compared to wind (20-40%) on a commercial ship, therefore right now with current silicon solar panel technology , solar is too expensive, fragile and dangerous for large scale application to commercial shipping – so I don’t see using solar for many years . Wind – I see visionary customers trying it in the next five to ten years – then followed by pragmatists and then the conservatives. Just because it makes so much sense. Solar power works on unmanned vessels because it give s 100% of the power for on board sensors and comms and this is essential.
Our feasibility study shows that the average wind for the last 22 years taken from NASA satellite data gives wind assisted shipping 20 to 40% fuel savings. 20% if you don’t cross the equ ator and towards 40% if you stay in one hemisphere e.g. Los Angeles to Shanghai route or New York to London .
Is the technology suitable for regions less blessed with sunshine than Australia?
Dane: We only need four hours sun for our unmanned surface vessels.
How did you address biofouling on the solar sails on an unmanned vessel?
Dane: We can antifoul the frame to last a y ear. We have tested our solar panels for six months with no measurable degradation. We think our USV can go to sea for a year and then come in for a clean up.
What is driving you – energy savings, environmental protection, concerns about natural resources, fascination in technology?
Dane: My motives are environmental concerns and concern about burning natural resources that could be used for other things. In the 70s and 80s people smoked in public spaces and the tobacco industry said there was absolutely no link to cancer or disease, however it was clearly known in the scientific community. This parallels human induced climate change over the last 20 years. I don’t want my grandchildren saying »So you had all this oil and coal which took millions of years to make, which we can use now to make structures and all sorts of things you could never imagine and you dug it up, burnt it and cooked the planet – thanks a lot«. Plus: I love technology and ask »why not?«.
You have been on of the nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Windship Association at this year’s SMM – I guess that does not mean that you will retire soon?
Dane: It is a honour to be acknowledged, but the job is not done until I see rigid sails on bulker and tanker ships and fleets of unmanned surface vessels – powered by the energy of the surface of the ocean: wind, solar and wave power.
Felix Selzer
