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.