Patent attributes
The present disclosure relates to a system (300) for detecting subsurface objects within a confined sea area. The system comprises one or more surface vessels (301) and at least one control unit (302). Each surface vessel (301) comprises positioning means and is arranged to gather bathymetry measurements during controlled motion in a path within the confined sea area and to transmit the bathymetry measurements to the at least one control unit (302). The control unit (302) is arranged to receive bathymetry measurements from the one or more surface vessels (301). Each surface vessel (301) is unmanned and arranged to operate in an autonomous or remotely controlled state when gathering bathymetry measurements. The control unit (302) is arranged to retrieve bathymetry data representing said path from a memory in the control unit. The control unit (302) is further arranged to compare the received bathymetry measurements to the retrieved bathymetry data and to indicate a presence of a subsurface object upon determination of a deviation between received bathymetry measurements and retrieved bathymetry data for at least one geographical position along said path. The disclosure also relates to an unmanned surface vessel adapted to detect subsurface objects.
