National Marine Facilities - USL
The Underwater Systems Laboratory (USL) led by Professor Gwyn Griffiths (Details) comprises some twenty-six staff and 4 PhD/EngD research students and is the largest technology research and development team supporting UK marine science.
Our remit is to undertake research, development, demonstration and evaluation in technology to serve the needs of the NERC marine science community, our stakeholders and our project partners. Naturally, we have close connections to scientists within the NOCS research groups.
Our capabilities and projects are clustered in five teams:
Platforms
- which currently focuses on the design and construction of the Autosub6000 deep diving autonomous underwater vehicle. Our Autosub 3 vehicle is now in the care of the Deep Platforms Group within Sea Systems as a NERC-suppoted tool for use by the marine science community. The team's capability and knowledge is available to external customers
Sensors
- where there are two foci: on developing new chemical and biological sensors, especially micro-sensors; and on sensors and systems for marine meteorology. The team is heavily involved in cooperative projects with schools of the University of Southampton and its staff co-supervise research students, and provide topics for several Masters students' group projects. Key links with industry are being developed.Communications
- this small group provides the skills and expertise in data communications and acquisition for a wide range of marine science applications. Most recently a Ferrybox system is being built for a Swire Group ship.Risk and Reliability
- We are developing a risk management strategy for the use of autonomous underwater vehicles, especially in polar ice-covered waters. The strategy will help us achieve our reliability goals for AUV missions in hazardous environments. Click here for more detailsEngineering Services
Our work is suported by a first class Engineering Services team providing design and workshop expertise and facilities such as pressure testing
An organizational goal of the Laboratory is to benefit from interaction between theocean engineers at the NOC and researchers in the School of Engineering Sciences (SES) and other Departments within the University of Southampton
