Autonomous Vessels Bring New Horizons to Great Lakes Exploration

This September, the Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition marked a new chapter in maritime exploration with a groundbreaking autonomous surface vessel (ASV) demonstration on Lake Superior. The project team, which included Ocean Infinity and Michigan Technological University (MTU), deployed the Armada 8, a state-of-the-art ASV equipped with high-resolution 3D bathymetric sonar, in an attempt to locate the wreckage of a National Center for Atmospheric Research plane that mysteriously disappeared in 1968.

The launch, hosted at Michigan Technological University’s Great Lakes Research Center, attracted widespread attention from regional and national stakeholders. While the plane has yet to be found, the ASV successfully mapped large sections of the lakebed, identifying several promising areas for further exploration. The gathered data is now being processed and refined for future missions.

This mission serves as a pilot for broader applications of autonomous technologies in the region. From shipwreck exploration to underwater surveying, the project demonstrates the value of ASVs in supporting Great Lakes research, preserving its rich history, and advancing technology-driven solutions for the maritime industry.