The evolution of science and technology has been rapid and has helped in shaping the world we know today. Robotics has played a huge part in this transformation and has slowly given rise to newer and faster machinery, vehicles, and unmanned systems. From robust UAVs and USVs to tiny photography drones, the growth in tech has been relentless and the demand for it has never been greater. And what better way to contribute to this rise than building tech that can help in solving some persistent issues we still face today. We would like to introduce you to the Grab Mariner, a compact multi-purpose USV designed by our team at Sentient Labs, an industrial automation and robotics company in the UAE that aims to make a big impact on our surroundings.
The Grab Mariner is an advanced remote-controlled USV that operates on shallow water surfaces and tight areas. It is multifunctional and is primarily used for waste collection, water sampling, and cleaning of waste from tight areas in shallow water bodies such as streams and creeks. It also functions as a marine surveillance drone and can capture high-resolution images for security purposes. Lastly, it can relocate stray buoys in water bodies and ensure marine safety limits. They also remove the need for expensive cleaning mechanisms such as skimmers, which are difficult to maneuver in such tight spaces, and help in protecting marine life without disrupting life underwater.
The entirety of the Grab Mariner consists of two main parts - the body, which contains the majority of the components needed for motion, and the Grab, which is a mechanical arm that can be used to engulf, hold or scoop objects from the surface of the water. To give it a rigid structure, the Mariner is made using high-quality aluminum. This gives it stability and anti-corrosive properties in the salt water as well as while handling waste and gives it extra strength to displace heavy waste and buoys. The mariner is 1.5 m tall and 2.25 m in length, giving it great versatility and flexibility in close quarters. The draft height is 0.35 m, which makes it perfect for shallow water bodies, even those as shallow as 0.5 meters.
The Mariner is equipped with high-quality 4k 8MP and 16 MP cameras, one on the front, one rearview camera, and an underwater camera with tilt and pan support, which is coupled with LED lighting panels for intuitive indication and rearview lighting. It uses a 1kW LiPeO4 battery as its main power supply and can operate for 10 hours at a stretch. The Mariner also works towards energy efficiency and 60% of its power comes from 100 W solar panels that open like wings during operations to maximize sunlight absorption. If the USV is lost and runs out of power, it automatically restores its heartbeat using the solar panels and pings its location, notifying the user of its whereabouts.
For all its communication needs, the USV comes equipped with a plethora of communication systems, such as MIMO 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS, and radio control over long distances. The radio antenna can also be used during unavoidable emergencies. The radio and remote controlled streams have a latency of 100-180 ms for the digital transmission. The operational speed is 2 knots and ensures minimal underwater disturbance.
During the UMEX 2022 Exhibition, we in Abu Dhabi were controlling the Mariner which was at our facility in Dubai. The front, rear and underwater cameras delivered clear visuals to help us navigate the Mariner across the pool, where it underwent further testing and development. The Grab is then attached to the Mariner and gives the user full control over the arm as well. Many operations such as water surface cleaning and surveying can be done using the Grab Mariner.