Innovation

Ocean Data conference spurs collaboration!

Animal platforms, ASV, AUV, Breakfast, Data, Demo, Fishing vessels, Innovation, SeaExplorer, Ship of opprtunity, SP SeaCat, Tuna / October 22, 2020

September 29th at Nya Varvet and online

What a day… The conference Ocean Data for Ocean Health covered a lot of the themes SCOOT has been involved in the last two years. We hosted the event on September 29th at SCOOT’s space at Nya Varvet in Gothenburg, and we were happy to gather quite a number of old and new SCOOT people and partners.

The programme scratched on the surface of many urgent topics. SCOOT is committed to contribute to keeping up the momentum of this dynamic environment! (Just hosted breakfast meeting on sensors platforms of opportunity, see below.)

Especially intense for SCOOT was the final Block 4, demonstrating autonomous technology for collecting ocean data, see below.

Jessica just before start of conference.
Jessica just before start of conference.
Jessica kicks off conference.
Jessica kicks off conference.
From block 1, keynote by Robin teigland.
From block 1, keynote by Robin teigland.
Christian and Fredrik leading block 2.
Christian and Fredrik leading block 2.
Keynote speaker Jannes Gimsbury, block 3.
Keynote speaker Jannes Gimsbury, block 3.
Torsten talking to Robert Mertens, block 3.
Torsten talking to Robert Mertens, block 3.
Robots for ocean science, in the electronics workshop.
Robots for ocean science, in the electronics workshop.
Olle shows and tells in the electronics workshop.
Olle shows and tells in the electronics workshop.
Olle explains how diving glider Seaexplorer works.
Olle explains how diving glider Seaexplorer works.
Preparations for demo in the marina.
Preparations for demo in the marina.
Seacat in the marina.
Seacat in the marina.
Seacat approaching Green Pilot, Robert stands by.
Seacat approaching Green Pilot, Robert stands by.
Ola explains data collection with Green Pilot.
Ola explains data collection with Green Pilot.
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Block 4: Demonstration of ocean robots

Autonomous vehicles

VOTO‘s research coordinator Louise Biddle and oceanographic technician Olle Petersson explain how gliders on and below the seasurface monitors the ocean.

Play Video
Next generation ocean observers!

Elsa and Jakob from the Science Club in Lysekil show their drifter Dynamene, built by Science Club and deployed in the morning, retrieving data live!

Play Video
Experimental platforms

Ola Benderius from Chalmers Revere lab and Robert Rylander from RISE Maritime research demontrate how knowledge from the automotive industry can be applied in the maritime domain. (Special appearance by flying drone from MMT Swden AB…)

Play Video

October 21st, breakfast webinar on tuna and fishing vessels

We were 6 persons having our morning coffee at Nya Varvet and another 6 joining the video meeting. Picking up from Sept 29th, we talked at some length about opportunities (and challenges) around data from tagged animals and from sensors mounted on fishing gear/vessels. Take home messages:

  • These data have huge potential to fill serious gaps in existing ocean monitoring programmes, where other and autonomous methods struggle. These gaps include shelf and coastal seas and marginal ice zones.
  • The cost-benefit relation is very good!
  • The infrastructure for collecting and distributing these data is rapidly expanding and maturing.
  • Challenges include subsurface communication and integration into existing monitoring data flows.

Recording from the meeting.

Register now: Ocean Data for Ocean Health

Data, Data Factory, Demo, Innovation / September 17, 2020

SCOOT hosts conference about digital solutions for the ocean environment.

SCOOT proudly invites you to an online conference on the 29th of September, about sustainability and innovation in the blue economy. Registration has opened. We are very excited to host this event from our new sea-side space at Nya Varvet in Gothenburg. We will take the opportunity to show what SCOOT is about and how we see the future for ocean observations.

Register!
About
Programme

The programme mixes presentations by experts in AI, robotics, innovation and ocean data, with demonstrations of autonomous technology for observing the ocean. SCOOT’s flagrobot AUV Ran will be busy on the other side of the globe, doing work in New Zeeland. But we will show other exciting items, in the workshop and on the water! VOTO are keen to show the how their fleet of diving gliders works (successfully tested in extremely stratified Skagerak!), and rumour has it that MMT wants to use our autonomous Seacat as a platform for take off and landing for a flying drone. We also expect a visit by the next generation of ocean data collectors, from Gullmarsgymnasiet in Lysekil, where the students build their own sensors and platforms. 

Recommendations regarding social distancing does not allow for any visitors inside. But but if you are in the vicinity of Gothenburg, take the chance to watch the live demo on site, and chat with technicians and pilots. Starting around 3.30 pm.

The conference is arranged in partnership with Maritime Cluster of West Sweden, Ocean Data Factory Sweden and Swedish Maritime Technology Forum.

Seacat during demo 2019, deploying Sailbuoy.
Seacat during demo 2019, deploying Sailbuoy.
Robots piling up in the workshop...
Robots piling up in the workshop...
Skeppet Ärans väg 3, Gothenburg. On Sept 29th visitors for outside demo only, otherwise please stop by!
Skeppet Ärans väg 3, Gothenburg. On Sept 29th visitors for outside demo only, otherwise please stop by!
Students at Gullmarsgymnasiet in their sensors workshop.
Students at Gullmarsgymnasiet in their sensors workshop.
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Research engineer from Moscow wins the Killer Shrimp Invasion Challenge!

Baltic Sea, Data, Data Factory, Innovation, Invasive specieses, Workshop / June 11, 2020

In March the Killer Shrimp Invasion Challenge was opened on Kaggle by Ocean Data Factory Sweden (coordinated by SCOOT): Use innovative machine learning (ML) solutions to predict the spread of the so-called “Killer Shrimp” (Dikerogammarus Villosus) into the Baltic Sea. The challenge is now closed , the referees have completed the evaluation and announced that the winner is…

Dimitriy, research engineer at IBRAE RAS in Moscow, Russia! Dimitriy nicked the winner’s place with a score of 0.99954 (out of a maximum possible 1) and by complying to all rules. Dimitry will be presenting his model in an open webinar on June 16th, see below:

The Benefits and Challenges of Open Innovation and Citizen Science for Solving Ocean Challenges through Applying ML to Ocean Data

Join us on June 16th for a Zoom discussion (Please register here):

  • 15:30 to 15:40 Introduction to Ocean Data Factory Sweden and afternoon discussion
  • 15:40 to 16:10 The Killer Shrimp Invasion Challenge on Kaggle: An online competition tackling the spread of invasive marine species through machine learning
  • 16:10 to 16.20 Break
  • 16.20 to 16.50 The Koster Seafloor Observatory on Zooniverse (still open to join!): Using citizen science and machine learning to annotate subsea imagery
  • 16.50 to 17.00 Concluding remarks

Join the Killer Shrimp Invasion Challenge!

Baltic Sea, Data, Data Factory, Innovation, Invasive specieses / April 7, 2020

Ocean Data Factory Sweden (coordinated by SCOOT) releases an open challenge: Use innovative machine learning (ML) solutions to predict the spread of the so-called “Killer Shrimp” (Dikerogammarus Villosus) into the Baltic Sea. Join the Killer Shrimp Invasion Challenge online on Kaggle!

Are you

  • a data scientist interested in applying your knowledge to environmental challenges?
  • a marine scientist interested in using Machine Learning in your work?
  • generally passionate about the ocean and keen to learn more about Machine Learning and Marine Science?

Then this is the right challenge for you! The winner of this competition will be awarded a €150 prize, along with the opportunity to present their winning model at the next ODF Sweden Grand Meeting. The event will be in the beautiful city of Gothenburg in June 2020 (date tba).

ODF Sweden will deliver learning and support digitalization in marine environmental management

Data, Data Factory, Environmental management, Environmental monitoring, Innovation / April 7, 2020

ODF Sweden (coordinated by SCOOT) is now gaining pace! First innovation cycle, lasting to end of 2019, will focus environmental monitoring and management. We will deliver learning and support for digitalization in marine environmental management to the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM). The collaboration between ODF Sweden and SwAM is a part of the ”Three Archipelagos” project. We are excited about this opportunity.

Are you interested in ODF Sweden? Do not hesitate to contact its director Robin Teigland or its coordinator Torsten Linders.

SCOOT goes all in

ASV, AUV, Demo, Hugin, Innovation, Ran, Sailbuoy, SB Kringla, Seaglider, SG Semla, SP SeaCat, SunChallenger, Workshop / July 13, 2019

Do you want to learn and test what/where/how autonomous platforms can measure in the ocean. Do you already have experience and want to meet other experts? This is the workshop for you! More info about available resources and schedule here.

SCOOT’s fleet of autonomous vessels and robots will be available, together with support vessels, technicians and experts. Specifically this includes SCOOT’s flagrobot, the AUV Ran. SCOOT is proud of the coverage Ran’s achievements has got in media, e.g. in Roling Stone,  Public Radio International and Swedish public service television. 

Our host for this workshop is Institute of Marine Research, belonging to Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Please contact us if you interested in participating!

SCOOT welcomes SunChallenger II to Gothenburg

ASV, Demo, Innovation, SunChallenger, Workshop / June 18, 2019

Difficult winds will unfortunately mean that the SunChallenger II will not make to Gothenburg on June 19. Constructor Jonas Blanck will nevertheless be there and explain his project.

On Wednesday June 19, SCOOT will welcome the newly launched SunChallenger II to Gothenburg. SCOOT is an eager friend of the SunChallenger project. SCOOT director Seb Swart leads the welcoming committee, which includes representatives from GU, MMT Sweden AB, Chalmers University of Technology and Research Institutes of Sweden. Everybody is invited to join us! The event is hosted by MMT Sweden AB and takes place at Nya Varvet, starting in the marina at 9.30 am. After lunch we continue with a seminar/discussion about what to expect from projects and platforms such as the SunChallenger. 

Specifications SunChallenger II: 16 ft Catamaran, 5x 300W glass-glass Solar panels, 2x MPPT solar chargers, 2x 500W electric trolling motors, 5x 12v 80Ah Lifepo4 batteries, 2x Raspberry Pi, 2x Jetson Nano, Dual GPS, Compass, PiCamera, 360° camera, 4G modem, AIS transponder, CHIRP DownVision Sonar & Fishfinder, water/air temperature, pH, Conductivity sensor, CO2 sensor, wind sensor, LED Lanterna, Horn, Flag.

SunChallenger II, Autonomous Solar-Powered Vessel, launched in June 2019

National Research & Innovation Agenda for Underwater Technology

AUV, Environmental monitoring, Innovation / June 29, 2019

SCOOT is active in SubTechSweden, a network of actors who want to strengthen innovation in underwater technology in Sweden. SubTechSweden now releases NRIA-U 2019 (National Research & Innovation Agenda for Underwater Technology). The agenda has a very clear main recommendation: Sweden needs “a joint programme for underwater technology, funding and coordinating basic research, applied research and demonstrations (TRL 1 – 6)”. NRIA-U 2019 is an updated version of NRIA-U 2016.

SubTechSweden emphasises that the underwater innovation area can help to meet the UN sustainability goals, the Government’s Maritime Strategy and Sweden’s underwater capability (decided by the Government to be a “significant national security interest”). NRIA-U 2019 mentions specifically the need for underwater technology in ocean science, monitoring, spatial planning and management. The achievements of SCOOT’s flagrobot AUV Ran under the Antarctic ice shelves are mentioned as a good example of innovation, together with platforms for infrastructure inspection, illustrated with MMT’s Surveyor Interceptor.

AUV Ran and MMT’s Surveyor Interceptor.

SCOOT will coordinate Ocean Data Factory

Data, Data Factory, Innovation / July 30, 2019

What started in early March with a workshop on innovation through open data will on July 1st turn into a major SCOOT activity, the Ocean Data Factory – ODF. SCOOT takes on the coordinating role, working with a large consortium from the industry, academia and public sector organisations. ODF will be headed by professor Robin Teigland from Chalmers University of Technology.

ODF will be an arena for competence building and innovation, open to all who believe that crunching data from the ocean is 1) fun, 2) holds the answers to a sustainable blue economy and 3) gets really productive when different competences do it together! We will be conducting our activities in high paced cycles focusing on selected themes. First theme to be announced soon, stay tuned…

ODF is part of Vinnova’s (Sweden’s Innovation Agency) investment to speed up development within AI. We are delighted to see that also the National Space Data Lab will be initiated. Planning for joint co-creation has already started.

Professor Robin Teigland, Chalmers University of Technology, head of Ocean Data Factory.

SCOOT enters project AutoMonIn – Autonomous Monitoring of marine Invasive species

Biodiversity, DNA, Environmental monitoring, Innovation / May 23, 2019

Chalmers University of Technology will lead a feasibility study aiming for “ an early warning system for invasive species based on DNA- methods, tailor-made to find species on alert-lists .”

The goal is to enable a transition from the traditional manual monitoring methods to the newly developed and coming methods based on automation and DNA-technique. This will be highly valuable to organisations conducting environmental monitoring and other stakeholders with an interest in the spread of invasive species, e.g. harbours and the shipping industry.

SCOOT enters AutoMonIn in order to support innovation and automation of marine environmental monitoring, in this case specifically biodiversity. Several of the technology elements in AutoMonIn are generic and can be adapted to ocean monitoring of other parameters than invasive species.

The other project partners are SeAnalytics AB, University of Gothenburg (SCOOT), Research Institutes of Sweden. Kickoff meeting was held April, 2019, project ends January, 2020. External funding comes from Vinnova (Sweden’s Innovation Agency). The aim of the current feasibility study is to prepare for a for a larger collaboration project. SCOOT hosts the project web page.