Scientists and engineers will try and create a digital twin of one of the world’s only tropical marine test ranges in a bid to bring down testing costs and unleash a wave of benefits from technologies like AI and robotics.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) this week went to market seeking developers for a proof of concept of what could become a digital twin of its three marine technology test ranges at the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef.
One of the ranges already offers permit-free testing of vehicles. It has been a boon for the emerging sensor and autonomous vehicle industry and a digital twin could improve access even more.
The Institute is responsible for ReefWorks, a tropical marine technology test range south of Townsville for industry, government, and academics to test marine technologies, un-crewed systems, and sensors.
The capability includes test tanks and three sea test ranges with differing conditions and corridors, which can make the in-field testing of un-crewed systems expensive.
It forces much of the testing into a virtual environment and the AIMS is developing a Marine Synthetic Environment or digital twin to support the virtual test runs.
On Thursday, the Institute approached the market for a proof of concept for the digital twin capable of simulating test range environment and physical environmental effects.
The initial focus will be on ReefWorks’ inshore test range but the digital twin may eventually scale to ranges at the clear water Davies Reef, deep water Myrmidon Reef and through the Cape Bowling Green 20 nautical miles away, according to tender documents.
The digital twin will be able to simulate real world environments based on measured data from air, sea-surface and subsea environments, potentially shortcutting much of the testing process.
“In-field test typically takes months of preparation and months of post-processing to understand the results,” the documents say.
“By linking a digital marine synthetic environment to the ReefWorks test range, establishing a digital twin capability, developers will be able to accelerate test and evaluation activities through mission planning, rapid playback and environmental analysis.”
The single stage procurement is open now and closes at the end of May, with a contract to be awarded for a June start.
AIMS has previously developed a simulation environment in partnership with QUT for an autonomous underwater vehicle.
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