Underwater drones map the ocean floor

James Hunter, a marine archaeologist with the maritime museum, said “the ocean was probably the last unexplored territory on this planet”.

“There are areas of our own oceans that we know nothing about,” Dr Hunter said. “We know more about the moon that we do about our own oceans.”

Dr Hunter is also curator of RAN Maritime Archaeology, and has conducted maintenance on some of the ships using the drone.

The Trident is one of the simpler versions of an exploding number of underwater drones being used by consumers, and for commercial and defence uses. Tethered by a cord, the Trident – available for a test drive at the maritime museum until 26 May 2019 – goes about 30 metres in each direction.

At the other end of the scale, Russian President Vladimir Putin last week launched a Belgorod submarine that had been modified to carry a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed torpedo drone.

Dr Hunter said as the technology and the endurance of autonomous underwater vehicles and other apparatus improved, more of the ocean would be mapped and explored.

We know more about the moon that we do about our own oceans.

Dr James Hunter, marine archaeologist

There are two main types of underwater drones:  autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are being used by the military, oceanographers, the oil and gas industry and others. Consumer models are now on sale in Australia for less than $2000.

Dr Hunter has been involved in some large projects where drones were used to solve longstanding mysteries.

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He was part of the team that used car-sized ROVs fitted with cameras and lights to explore the wrecks of the HMAS Sydney and Kormoran in Western Australia.  They were sunk on November 19, 1941, with their wrecks lying nearly 200 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia nearly 2.5 kilometres below the water’s surface.

The drones’ images – showing soldiers’ shoes scattered near the wreck – confirmed German accounts that in the intense battle, the Sydney had been sunk by German shells and torpedoes.

Peter Tattersall, head of learning and public engagement with the museum, said young people took to using the drones quickly.

“What’s amazing is how quickly young people take to it and how you can see a real spark in the eye when they start to explore a space they haven’t had a chance to access,” Mr Tattersall said.

“We are constantly surprised by what we can see under there. Despite being used and abused for near enough to 200 years, even in this corner of the working harbour, it’s possible to see a pretty amazing diversity of ocean plants and animals that are moving back in to stay.”