US scientists are developing hi-tech military technology designed to be able to act as an underwater radar, in essence, and detect things like mines. The scientists are working within Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's Ocean Visibility and Optics Laboratory - sited at Florida Atlantic University - and their technology could surpass existing technologies' abilities to quickly establish and transmit data relating to potential seaborne threats.

Underwater Technology

Upon reaching maturity, the intention is for this underwater technology to be integrated into robots which will be deployed as a fleet, and for it to feature prominently within the US military's arsenal.

The Florida scientists were recently provided with two million dollars in funding from the Office of Naval Research (a branch of the US DoD - Department of Defense) to take their underwater laser sensing/robotics technology to the next level. As well as military applications, it will have environmental uses too - in being able to highlight the state of the ocean.

Underwater Mines

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's assistant research professor, Dr Fraser Dalgleish, highlighted how the technology being worked on could benefit military operations, especially in terms of countering underwater mines.

"Underwater mines pose a major threat to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and merchant fleets", he said.

"Using intelligent, adaptive laser imaging and communication techniques with swarms of co-operating underwater robots could provide identification-quality underwater imagery in real-time across much greater regions of seabed than current technology allows, and will therefore be vital for effectively classifying both military and environmental threats to our coastal regions in the future."

The venture is a three-phased one, with the ultimate aim being to develop simultaneous imaging/data transmission technology deployed within hi-tech robots operating within an underwater environment. During their trials, Dr Dalgleish and his colleagues will employ hi-tech computer simulation software to forecast how the technology can be expected to perform within different oceanic states.

Using this data together with calculations from live, physical tests of the technology, they hope to gain comprehensive knowledge of how this kind of technology has a place within future military missions.