Remote-controlled underwater vehicle gives Novia a technological edge

Novia University of Applied Sciences has taken a major step into the future of measurement technology by using an advanced USV – unmanned surface vehicle – in both teaching and project work. The vessel is remote‑controlled and equipped with sonar, making it possible to create detailed images of sea, lake, and riverbeds.

“When we operate this one, we get a complete picture of the bottom, regardless of the environment,” says Sem Timmerbacka, lecturer at Novia University of Applied Sciences.

One of only few in Finland

The vessel is stationed at Technobothnia in Brändö, and according to Sem Timmerbacka, there are very few similar units in the entire country. The technology is described as highly advanced and is used, among other things, in the project Next Generation TB.

The USV is equipped with a satellite navigation system capable of positioning objects with centimetre‑level accuracy. It also has motion sensors that allow it to compensate collected data for wave movement while in the water.

The vessel was most recently used in a course at Novia last autumn, and the goal is to integrate it even more into teaching.

A unique resource for education

Timmerbacka emphasizes that the vessel gives Novia a unique position.

“We are probably the only educational institution in Finland that has one of these. The fact that it is also remote‑controlled is unusual. It measures bottom depth and creates three‑dimensional models of the seabed. It can also be used to search for objects on the seafloor. Just outside Brändö, for example, there is a wreck that we have collected data on and created a 3D model of in a course for surveying and construction students,” he says.

Suitable for bridge inspections

The USV can also be used to examine bridge foundations and other structures below the water surface.

“Finland has a repair backlog when it comes to bridges, and many of those components are underwater. With this vessel, we can assess repair needs much more accurately,” says Anders Ahlbäck, lecturer at Novia University of Applied Sciences.

Students have already had the opportunity to test the equipment, and interest is high. Work is underway to give it a larger role in the curriculum, especially within surveying technology and construction programmes.

Advanced technology in a compact format

The vessel is battery‑powered and can operate for up to eight hours on a single charge. It is also equipped with a sound‑velocity meter, since the speed of sound in water varies depending on temperature and salinity.

“It is important to be able to measure sound velocity at different depths. This is very advanced technology,” says Timmerbacka.

For more information, contact

• Novia University of Applied Sciences, Lecturer Sem Timmerbacka sem.timmerbacka@novia.fi, +358 50 571 9402