Maritime Innovation Chris Murphy, PhD

28 April 2016

Chris Murphy / Bluefin Robotics

Spun out of MIT AUV Lab in 1997 Now a part of General Dynamics 55,000 sqft. facility, full machine shop, overhead crane, private 110ft dock, 54ft workboat catamaran, 15 min. from Boston

We Are Hiring!

Graduate of Olin College (2006) MS / PhD from MIT / WHOI (2008 / 2012) Focus on human-vehicle communication and collaboration

Supported MH370 search, Amelia Earhart search, Deepwater Horizon response, Climate change studies, marine fisheries research, and polar monitoring cruises

BLUEFIN-12

Bluefin’s AUVs BLUEFIN-21

Depth Rating: 4500m - 6000m A Workhorse: Get a Crane!

BLUEFIN-9

Depth Rating: 1500mFits in a Pickup Truck

SANDSHARK

Depth Rating: 300m Two-Person Liftable

Depth Rating: 200m Fits in a Backpack

Hovering Vehicles too…

Bluefin SandShark

Fixed Tail Section User-Defined Modular Payload

•  3’ long, 5” OD, 25 pounds, backpackable

•  Open source software

•  Swappable payload bay

•  Over 50% of vehicle for user payload

•  Low cost – accessible to researchers

Key Trend: Systems of Systems

Rather than one or more operator(s) driving a single vehicle, advances in autonomy are enabling systems of multiple platforms to solve complex missions, with greater and greater separation from the operator.