In a groundbreaking collaboration, marine technology companies Sonardyne and SeaTrac Systems have successfully demonstrated a new method to monitor previously hidden but disruptive deep ocean currents in near-real-time. The project, conducted in the US Gulf of Mexico, marks a significant milestone in oceanography by leveraging advanced sensors and uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) to deliver high-resolution data directly to scientists without the need for offshore personnel.
The initiative, commissioned and conducted in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island (URI), focused on the Gulf’s Loop Current System (LCS), a powerful and dynamic ocean system known for its disruptive currents. Funded by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program, the project was completed during Fall 2025. This collaboration not only provides a template for future oceanographic research but also underscores the potential of uncrewed technologies in enhancing our understanding of deep ocean dynamics.
Randy Watts, Professor of Oceanography at URI, highlighted the importance of sustained deep-ocean measurements, stating, “Sustained deep-ocean measurements remain rare despite their importance. This project demonstrates how commercially available instruments and uncrewed vehicles can deliver science-ready data in strong current systems – overcoming the dual challenges of station-keeping where most USVs fail and cost-effective deployment without expensive research vessels.”
The collaboration utilized Sonardyne’s advanced Origin 65 seabed acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) and SeaTrac’s SP-48 USV to gather near-real-time current profile data from the Loop Current System. Over 18 months, four Origin 65s and five pressure inverted echosounders were deployed in water depths ranging from 1,800 to 3,200 meters in the heart of the LCS, approximately 200 nautical miles off the coast of Louisiana. The Origin 65, a 4,100 m-rated, low-frequency, deepwater profiling ADCP, can profile up to 800 meters in time-aligned, high resolution and includes pressure inverted echo sounder (PIES) functionality.
With the Origin 65’s integrated Edge processing capability and acoustic modem, data could be acoustically harvested from the surface by SeaTrac’s remotely piloted USV, using a Sonardyne HPT 7000 transceiver. The solar and battery-powered SP-48 navigated variable ocean currents and weather conditions in the Gulf to reach the sensor locations and harvest the data. It then sent the science-ready data to shore through its dual Iridium and Starlink satellite links, enabling high-data-rate and real-time communications.
In total, three deployments covering more than 30 days saw the SP-48, which can sustain operations at 2 to 3 knots and sprint up to 5 knots, cover around 1,500 nautical miles. During this time, over 135 GB of high-resolution ocean currents and related parameter data at up to 800 meters above the bottom were harvested. This data will improve models that forecast currents such as topographic Rossby waves, providing critical insights for science and safety in the region and opening new avenues for future research.
The successful completion of this project highlights the transformative potential of uncrewed technologies in oceanographic research. By leveraging commercially available instruments and USVs, scientists can now gather high-resolution data in challenging environments without the need for expensive research vessels or putting personnel at risk. This not only enhances the reliability and sustainability of deep-ocean observations but also boosts the ability to improve predictive models, helping industry and science mitigate the hazards posed by disruptive deep ocean currents.
As the maritime industry continues to evolve, the integration of advanced technologies like those demonstrated in this project will play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of ocean dynamics. The collaboration between Sonardyne, SeaTrac Systems, and the University of Rhode Island sets a new standard for oceanographic research, paving the way for more innovative and sustainable practices in the future.