Advanced Surveillance and Tracking Capabilities for Maritime & Naval UAVs

The use of unmanned aircraft, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs), has revolutionized many industries, including the maritime sector. Unmanned systems offer an efficient and cost-effective way to collect data and monitor various activities in the maritime domain. In recent years, the use of unmanned aircraft in maritime applications has grown significantly due to the many advantages.

Many countries across the globe have already discovered the potential uses of this type of unmanned aviation, so they are investing in the procurement, research, and development of naval unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs).

One of the primary uses of unmanned aircraft in maritime applications is surveillance and monitoring. A UAS may be equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors that can provide real-time imagery and data of the ocean surface, including marine traffic, oil spills, and illegal fishing activities. The UAS may provide tactical situational awareness and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) to navy vessels and fleets, so this helps authorities monitor and enforce maritime regulations more effectively.

Unmanned aircraft can also be used for search and rescue operations in the maritime domain. A UAS equipped with thermal cameras and other sensors can detect and locate people in distress on boats or in the water. This capability significantly reduces response times and increases the chances of survival for those in distress.

In addition to surveillance and search and rescue operations, unmanned aircraft can also be used for cargo delivery to ships at sea. UAVs can deliver essential supplies, spare parts, and medical supplies to ships without the need for a helicopter or boat. This capability reduces costs and increases the speed and efficiency of delivering critical supplies to ships.

The use of unmanned aircraft in maritime applications also has environmental benefits. The UAS can collect data on ocean currents, temperature, and other environmental factors, which can be used to study the effects of climate change on the ocean. A UAS can also perform non-stop monitoring and detection of oil spills, allowing for more efficient and timely cleanup efforts.

At UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, we are completely aware and fully convinced of the benefits that a UAS can bring to society in the maritime environment, so we have tried to understand the demands of all these applications to provide the customers with the best flight control functionalities and capabilities to accomplish their missions. In this way, our engineers developed the “Follow Target” functionality. This advanced feature enables an unmanned aircraft to track a moving target over the sea without any operator intervention, keeping a constant space with the objective of enabling its continuous monitorization and study.

This innovative feature, together with many other advanced capabilities included in our flight control system, such as the camera-guided functionality, creates a complete environment for fully autonomous and detailed surveillance operations where the ground control station staff will be able to monitor the sea with a reduced workload related to piloting the UAS.

The use of unmanned aircraft in maritime applications offers many benefits, including increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved safety, so we can expect to see continued growth in the use of UAS in the maritime sector. However, the extensive use of unmanned aviation for these purposes requires cutting-edge capabilities, such as the Follow Target tracking technology.

Help your UAS platform conquer the sea, and contact us to include advanced capabilities in your flight control solution.