Abstract
Unmanned aerial and marine vehicles are increasingly used for surveillance, monitoring, and research in coastal areas. However, their operational range is constrained by limited onboard battery capacity, requiring frequent returns to land or manned vessels for recharging. Existing solutions, such as land-based stations and ship-based support, are costly, logistically complex, and limit mission duration. The lack of sustainable, autonomous offshore charging solutions hinders the efficiency and scalability of these operations.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have developed a self-sustaining floating platform that autonomously navigates, anchors, and harnesses marine currents to generate renewable energy. The system features a low-flow marine hydrokinetic (MHK) turbine and a power take-off (PTO) device optimized for efficient energy conversion, storing power in onboard batteries to recharge UAVs, USVs, and remote sensors. Unlike traditional power sources, this solution offers continuous, off-grid energy generation for extended offshore operations.
FAU seeks to advance this innovation into the marketplace through licensing or development partnerships.
Benefit
Autonomous Operation - Self-deploying, navigating, and anchoringSustainable Power Source - Uses marine hydrokinetic energyExtended Range - Enables offshore recharging and data relayMarket Application
Maritime Surveillance & Monitoring Offshore Research & Environmental SensingMilitary & Defense Unmanned SystemsPublications
A Power Takeoff Device for a Small Marine Hydrokinetic Turbine Deployed from an Unmanned Floating Platform
Development of an Unmanned Mobile Current Turbine Platform
Brochure
