Next-Generation Uncrewed Surface Vehicles with Autonomous Launch and Recovery Systems for Gliders and Floats

The sustainable development of the blue economy depends on the consistent availability of high quality ocean data that provides real-time actionable intelligence. Increased access to ocean data are not only required for effective forecasting of extreme weather events, but also to address a range of socio-economic & political challenges such as fisheries management, environmental pollution, ocean acidification as well as sovereignty resolution. Meeting this data demand requires a significant scale-up in ocean data collection activities. In this paper we emphasize the need for new solutions to more efficiently deploy and recover existing autonomous platforms, specifically buoyancy driven gliders & floats; and describe our vision for Autonomous Launch and Recovery System (ALARS) platforms to improve ocean data coverage at lower costs to expand ocean observations at scale. ALARS-equipped uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) can expand and streamline observational networks by deploying, recovering, and eventually recharging AUVs and floats. In addition, progress in robotics, AI, and sensor technology-within existing maritime law-will further support sustainable blue economy development and address urgent marine and environmental challenges. Here we provide an overview of the technological, legal and scientific considerations and motivations for ALARS with a view of future steps towards realizing the technology and the opportunities that lie ahead.