NOAA, Sonardyne and Voyis Demonstrate Underwater Technology at URI

The NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), based at the University of Rhode Island (URI), has showcased underwater navigation, imaging, and autonomous systems developed in collaboration with marine technology companies Sonardyne and Voyis. The two-day event, held in October 2026 at URI's Narragansett Bay Campus, highlighted applications ranging from deep-ocean current monitoring to autonomous seafloor research and high-resolution shipwreck surveys.

 

Sonardyne specializes in underwater acoustic positioning, navigation, and communication systems, while Voyis develops optical cameras, laser scanners, and stereo imaging technology for subsea vehicles. Researchers demonstrated how these technologies are being integrated into scientific instruments and autonomous platforms to improve underwater data collection.

 

One application involves monitoring the Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico, where URI researchers have deployed instruments at depths of about 1,800 to 3,200 meters. The equipment includes Sonardyne acoustic instruments and current-measuring systems, with an uncrewed surface vessel used to retrieve data acoustically. The arrangement enables near-real-time observations in deep-water areas where conventional monitoring is difficult.

 

URI researchers also presented ALBEX 2.0, an updated autonomous lander designed to collect environmental data from the seafloor. The redesigned platform incorporates Sonardyne's 6G acoustic technology to improve instrument release and recovery, addressing challenges associated with underwater positioning, weather conditions, and limited research vessel availability.

 

Read More: https://oceaneconomist.com/articles/fmd-autohook-autonomous-vessel-recovery

 

High-resolution underwater imaging formed another part of the showcase. In 2025, a student-led team used URI's remotely operated vehicle Rhody, equipped with a Voyis Discovery Stereo Camera, to document 17 shipwrecks in Lake Ontario. Thousands of synchronized images were combined to produce three-dimensional models withcentimeter-levell detail, supporting NOAA's maritime heritage documentation and preservation work.

 

Practical demonstrations included deploying a REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle in Narragansett Bay, equipped with Sonardyne acoustic tracking and positioning sensors. Participants also observed operations involving Rhody and ALBEX at URI's Ocean Robotics Laboratory and followed underwater activities remotely through the university's Inner Space Center.

 

Adam Soule, Executive Director of NOAA OECI, highlighted the importance of cooperation between government agencies, academic researchers, and technology companies. Michelle Barnett, Ocean Science Business Development Manager at Sonardyne, said field demonstrations let researchers assess equipment capabilities while giving manufacturers feedback for future development.