NTNU AMOS Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems Annual Report 2020 The Research Council of Norway NTNU AMOS • Annual Report 2020 OUR VISION • Establish a world-leading research centre on autonomous marine operations and systems • Create fundamental knowledge through multidisciplinary research • Provide cutting-edge interdisciplinary research to make autonomy a reality for ships and ocean structures, unmanned vehicles and marine operations • AMOS has license to create knowledge, competence and values in terms of innovations and entrepreneurships NTNU AMOS will contribute to improved international competitiveness of Norwegian industries as well as to safety and protection of the marine environment excellent – generous – courageous Editors: Sigmund Bolme, Thor I. Fossen and Asgeir J. Sørensen Copyright NTNU AMOS, 2021 2 www.ntnu.edu/amos The Research Council of Norway CONTENTS DIRECTORS’ REPORT .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 COMING HOME ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 THOMAS SAUDER RE-JOINS THE TEAM ................................................................................................................ 11 ORGANIZATION, INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATORS, AND FACTS AND FIGURES ............... 12 MAIN RESEARCH AREAS AND PROJECTS ............................................................................................................. 14 Technology for mapping and monitoring of the oceans ................................................................................... 16 Main results ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Marine Robotic Platforms ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Main results ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Wave-Powered Surface Vessel for Persistent Ocean Observation ................................................. 27 Subsea collision avoidance ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Mapping the Historical Shipwreck Figaro in the High Arctic Using Underwater Sensor-Carrying Robots ....................................................................................................... 31 Advancing ocean observation with an AI-driven mobile robotic explorer (AUV) ........................... 32 NTNU AMOS PROJECT 3 ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Highlights ............................................................................................................................................................................. 33 NTNU AMOS PARTICIPATION IN ASSOCIATED PROJECTS ....................................................................... 47 Photo Gallery ............................................................................................................................................................................. 56 Highlights of the Applied Underwater Vehicle Laboratory (AURLab) .......................................................... 61 Highlights SmallSat Lab ....................................................................................................................................................... 63 Highlights of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laboratory ..................................................................................... 69 AWARDS AND HONOURS 2020 .................................................................................................................................. 72 RESEARCHER-DRIVEN INNOVATION AT NTNU AMOS ............................................................................... 73 De-icing the drones ................................................................................................................................................................ 75 New Norwegian alternative to GPS navigation ....................................................................................................... 77 New Vista centre spin-off from NTNU AMOS’autonomous underwater robotics research ............. 79 Could NTNU AMOS help identify Viking ships at the bottom of Lake Mjøsa? ........................................ 80 Creating trust ............................................................................................................................................................................ 82 Wave motion compensation in dynamic positioning of small autonomous vessels .......................... 84 Greater than the sum of the parts ................................................................................................................................. 85 Controlling the ships of the future ................................................................................................................................ 86 Norwegian high school students to gather ocean data for NTNU and partners ...................................... 87 Warming waters threatens the history of the Arctic ............................................................................................ 88 NTNU AMOS has entered the field of cyber security ........................................................................................... 90 When Murphy Wins ............................................................................................................................................................... 92 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 95 Annual accounts and man-year efforts ....................................................................................................................... 96 AMOS personnel 2020 .......................................................................................................................................................... 98 Publications ................................................................................................................................................................................ 107 3 NTNU AMOS • Annual Report 2020 DIRECTOR’S REPORT 4 © Asgeir Johan Sørensen www.ntnu.edu/amos The Research Council of Norway Creating competence, knowledge and innovations for a better world is • Project 1: Technology for the mapping and monitoring of the the mission for NTNU AMOS. oceans; • Project 2: Marine robotic platforms; and On 12 March 2020, the Norwegian prime minister announced a • Project 3: Risk management and a maximized operability of lockdown of Norwegian society, following several other countries ships and ocean structures. as a knock-down response to the pandemic outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. This was one of several wide-ranging decisions In this context, it is important to enhance the impact and outcome impacting Norway and the rest of the world. by associated research projects and innovation activities. During 2020, NTNU AMOS scientists, together with fellows, have been Since the start-up in 2013, we at NTNU AMOS have advocated for instrumental in securing funding for several large research the importance of a holistic and sustainable approach to develop programs going from 5-8 years, such as: competence, knowledge and innovations with relevance for: • SFI Autoship: Will contribute to Norwegian players taking a leading role in the development of autonomous ships for safe • global challenges related to climate, energy, minerals, food, clean and sustainable operations. oceans and biodiversity; • SFI Harvest: Technologies for sustainable biomarine value • value creation in terms of oil and gas exploration, maritime creation. Pioneering the lower-trophic fisheries – Innovations to transport, fisheries, aquaculture, offshore renewable unlock the blue bioeconomic potential. energy, marine minerals, tourism, coastal infrastructure and • SFI Blues: Enable Norwegian industry to create new types urbanization; and of floating stationary structures that satisfy the needs and • governance and knowledge-based management of the oceans and requirements from renewable energy, aquaculture and coastal coastal areas. infrastructure. • FME NORTHWIND: Will be at the cutting edge, working on The year 2020 has been a game-changer in terms of the digitali- innovations to make wind power cheaper, more efficient and zation of work processes and interactions between organizations more sustainable. and people. During this year alone, the extent and pace in • NTNU VISTA Centre for Autonomous Robotic Operations Subsea transition have probably been the same as the 10 preceding (CAROS): Aim to become a world-leading research centre on years together. 2020 is also recognized as the start