In a groundbreaking development, Penta Ocean Construction and Prodrone Co., Ltd. have introduced the “Penta-Ocean Vanguard-DroneAqua” (POV-DA), a state-of-the-art oceanographic survey drone. This innovative device is designed to take off, land, and sail seamlessly on the sea, setting a new standard for marine construction surveys.
The POV-DA boasts advanced features such as a high-precision GNSS satellite system, powerful thrusters, and a depth-measuring sonar. According to Penta Ocean, this drone can transmit and display real-time data on its location (X, Y, Z coordinates) and water depth to operators onshore via a remote control console. The drone’s thrusters enable it to navigate to specific monitoring points and maintain its position despite challenging wave conditions, facilitating efficient and automated bathymetric surveys and wave observations.
Streamlining Bathymetric Surveys
Traditionally, depth sounding in construction projects involving breakwaters, quay walls, and similar structures required dedicated boats or lead sounding methods. The introduction of the POV-DA significantly reduces the time required for these surveys. Its ability to transmit real-time data allows operators to monitor underwater construction progress and assess the need for additional soil dumping instantaneously. Tests have confirmed that the POV-DA’s depth surveying accuracy is within +/-10cm of traditional methods, making it highly suitable for practical construction management.
Enhancing Wave Observation
Marine construction management and safety often depend on weather and marine forecasts, as well as wave height measurements near project sites. Visual inspections from the coastline are typically performed to assess project feasibility. The POV-DA enhances this process by providing real-time wave height and period data derived from GNSS readings. Construction managers can thus assess site conditions more quickly and accurately. The drone’s measurements have shown a variance of +/-10% or less compared to conventional wave meters, proving its reliability for construction applications.
Versatile Capabilities and Future Enhancements
Beyond improving construction management efficiency and feasibility assessments, the POV-DA can capture aerial shots for emergency support during disasters, offering real-time updates on both land and underwater damages. Future enhancements to the POV-DA may include additional equipment such as multi-parameter water quality meters and water sampling devices, broadening its applications to coastal environment preservation and comprehensive marine observations in construction projects.
The Penta-Ocean Vanguard-DroneAqua represents a significant leap forward in oceanographic surveying technology, promising to streamline marine construction processes and enhance safety and efficiency in the field.
