Remote-Controlled Amphibious Vehicle Wades into the Surf

Dr. William Dally, a University of North Florida civil engineering professor, along with some of his students, operate the complete Surf Rover model scaled to one-quarter the actual size. (Image courtesy of UNF Public Relations.)

A new type of research vehicle is being developed to study the “surf zone”—an area from the shoreline up to an ocean depth of 25 feet that is difficult to analyze because water craft and researchers tend to get tossed around in the churning surf.

Associate Professor William Dally at the University of North Florida is working on a machine that can withstand strong currents and navigate difficult territory while gathering valuable research data. He envisioned the idea as a graduate student fighting the waves while trying to place scientific measuring rods in the surf zone.

The prototype Surf Rover would carry measuring devices and cameras into the surf zone. Made of aluminum and stainless steel, the device will weigh over 3,000 pounds and measure about 22 feet long and 16 feet wide—but its folding design would allow it to be transported on a trailer. The vehicle would navigate the surf zone on tank tracks that allow it to move on soft sand, steep slopes and the ocean floor.

The Surf Rover model scaled to one-quarter the actual size. (Image courtesy of UNF Public Relations.)

A key component for the rover is its 20-foot mast, which will function as a snorkel for its diesel engine and will carry positioning and radio-controlled devices. The rover’s engine is necessary: Electric cords would limit the range of the vehicle, and batteries are too heavy and quickly lose power.

Dally’s team has constructed a quarter-scale working model of the Surf Rover, with a full-sized version planned for testing next year. The team is currently working on minimizing drag on the mast and keeping the engine cool until it submerges in the water.

“We’re helping to create a new piece of scientific equipment that will help us better understand our coasts, oceans and environment,” said graduate student Will Fletcher, who is also a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy—which has shown interest in the project.

The Surf Rover’s primary job would be “near-shore surveying, determining how the beach changes during storms and what happens to the sand eroded from the beach,” explained Dally. He anticipates that it could also meet demands for the hydrographic surveying industry, which no longer uses swimmers and boats due to recent accidents. The Navy could use the rover instead of divers to gather information to help plan landing or rescue operations.

The innovative Surf Rover promises to help engineers and scientists better understand the coastal environment. “When it’s complete, it will be the only one of its kind,” said Dally.

To see other ocean research robots, check out Underwater Drone Fits in a Backpack.