Sailbuoy – The Technology

The Sailbuoy MK 4 uses wind power for propulsion. Solar panels provide power for the electronics and actuators. Data communication and control are established in real-time using the satellite system through a user-friendly web interface.

Power Consumption

The Sailbuoy technology makes the vessel use very little power. The internal autopilot battery pack holds enough energy to navigate for six months without charging. Batteries and solar panels power the onboard electronics and actuators. Not dependent on solar power for navigation, the Sailbuoy is an attractive platform for high latitudes with limited solar power.

To conserve energy, the sensor payload can be in a low-power state until the Sailbuoy arrives at the area of interest or until the solar panels recharge the payload batteries. This is a unique feature not found on other autonomous vessels.

Navigating the oceans

Navigation

The Sailbuoy is a wind-driven Unammed Surface Vessel (USV) that behaves much like a sailboat. Its patent-pending design and tailor-built autopilot enable it to operate autonomously. When navigating, the Sailbuoy sails much like a traditional sailing boat, tacking to make headway against the wind and to approach the user-defined waypoint.

Explore Sailbuoy

The Sailbuoy is an application-based USV that can carry various sensors for various ocean applications, from measuring ocean and atmospheric parameters to tracking oil spills or acting as a communication relay station for subsea instrumentation.

Explore the Sailbuoy by clicking the cards.

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1 - Sail

Tested to 30 m/s wind. Speed: 1-3 knots.

2 - Solar panels

30 W solar panels. 4 months of navigation endurance on one charge, including communication, actuator control, positioning and calculation.

3 - Meteorological sensors

Measure meteorological parameters such as air temperature, heating above the ocean surface, wind speed (steady and gusting), barometric pressure, and wind direction.

4 - Antennas

Iridium data service.

5 - Payload

Autopilot System: This system enables autonomous navigation along predefined routes, with real-time capability to update settings and adjust the course as needed.

Battery Pack: Equipped with high-capacity 30 Ah batteries, providing reliable power for extended operations.

Datalogger: Collects, stores, and organises data from onboard sensors, ensuring seamless data management for analysis and reporting.

Mechanical Design & Environmental Stress

One of the big strengths of the Sailbuoys vehicle’s design is that it is designed not to damage or get caught up in equipment or other objects at sea. It is not caught in floating debris, moorings or other mechanical structures.

The sea surface is a harsh environment with many mechanical stresses, corrosion, and wear. An unmanned surface vehicle has to withstand this environment for long periods of time. The Sailbuoy is designed and tested to withstand the environmental stresses of the North Sea, including cold, severe weather and little sunlight during the winter. Our extensive testing in these conditions shows that robustness is vital for a surface vessel to withstand months at sea. The Sailbuoy navigates satisfactorily in harsh environmental conditions and high sea state with impeccable performance.

Technical Data

Length: 2m

Displacement (weight): 60 kg

30W solar panels

Maximum mission duration: 12 months

Average Speed: 1-3 knots

Navigable wind speed range 2-20 m/s

Payload: 15 kg / 60 dm3

Data & Control Portal

The Sailbuoy is controlled through the Offshore Sensing IDS Web-based portal. The IDS portal can also be accessed with mobile devices for user-friendly monitoring. The payload communication and data can also be accessed through the IDS or an API.

Access to a website is given. There you can update waypoints and download data from the Sailbuoy. Also here user friendliness has been a priority. Experience has shown that most of the time used, goes towards monitoring the progress of the Sailbuoy during the mission. The website is also adapted to mobile phone usage. Here the operator can log in to control and monitor the Sailbuoy’s progress. The payload communication also uses the same interface for control and data retrieval.

Deployment

Deployment and recovery can be costly if one depends on vessels with specific criteria. The Sailbuoy is made to be easy to deploy and recover. Just switch it on and put it in the water. Almost any vessel can be used to deploy it. We have deployed and retrieved the Sailbuoy using Zodiacs, fishing boats, and large offshore vessels.