Featured system

MARE

Marine Autonomous Robotic Explorer, an autonomous airboat platform built for shallow-water exploration, inspection, and experimental mission planning.

RoleAutonomous platform engineering and mission-oriented system integration

TimelineExploration and inspection research platform

TagsAirboat / exploration / coverage planning

Summary

MARE was designed as an autonomous airboat for exploration-oriented tasks such as coral reef inspection and shallow seabed observation. The platform served as a vehicle for testing both systematic coverage strategies and surprise-driven exploration behavior.

Challenge

Shallow marine environments require a platform that can move with confidence in low-depth conditions while still supporting exploratory autonomy behaviors. It is not enough to navigate; the robot also has to make sensible decisions about where to spend its attention.

Approach

MARE uses an autonomous airboat configuration that pairs mobile marine access with higher-level mission logic. The system was used to study both bounded-area coverage and surprise-driven exploration aimed at identifying potentially unexpected observations.

System breakdown

Airboat mobilityShallow-water capable platform architecture intended for environments that are awkward for deeper draft systems.

Mission autonomySupport for systematic coverage and exploration behaviors, allowing the system to move between routine inspection and novelty-seeking modes.

Inspection contextDesigned with use cases like coral reef and shallow seabed observation in mind, where mobility and attention both matter.

Gallery

Field imagery and motion reference.

MARE on the water. — On-water deployment view of the airboat platform.

MARE field trial view. — Field trial imagery showing the platform in operating context.

Video overview of the platform in motion.

Lessons learned

Exploration platforms need a careful balance between dependable locomotion and autonomy policies that are useful rather than distracting. MARE highlights how mission logic and mobility design have to reinforce one another if the platform is to generate meaningful observations.

Outcome

MARE became a capable research platform for testing how autonomous marine systems move through shallow environments while deciding what deserves closer attention.