The University of Florida (UF), through its Division of Sponsored Research, was awarded a $299,752 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program. The grant, with a performance period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026, will fund research to develop novel optical technologies for accurate underwater robot localization and navigation without relying on GPS or acoustic guidance. Key innovations include using blue-green laser speckles for distant UUV positioning, coded bokeh spectrums for 3D orientation measurements, and a directionally-controlled adaptive LiDAR system to provide GPS-quality pose estimates. This optics-based framework will enable long-term autonomous operation and safe recovery of underwater robots, supporting applications such as marine ecosystem monitoring, ocean climate observation, and remote stealth missions. The project will also develop a ROS-based simulation platform and conduct comprehensive ocean trials to assess the feasibility of the proposed solutions.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $299.8k | 9/7/23 |