PICUD-2023-01: POSEIDON
DEVELOPMENT, TESTING AND VALIDATION PLATFORM OF A DIGITAL OCEANOGRAPHIC TWIN
Principal Researcher: Milagros Fernández Gavilanes
Researcher Team: Carlos Pérez Collazo, José Antonio González Prieto, Pablo Sendín Raña
Budget: 16.128 €
Execution period and status: Two years (from 17/01/2024 to 16/01/2026). In progress.
Summary: The application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the implementation of 4.0 technologies is a crucial issue in the digital transformation of the economy and the management of resources, both for the Navy and for the civil society. The creation of advanced digital twins plays a key role in this process, enabling efficient management of available resources and intelligent integration of spatial data in a constantly changing environment. With this in mind, one such environment where there is a need for understanding, monitoring and updating, all in the most dynamic way possible, is the marine. Some of its key data refer to underwater relief knowledge (bathymetry); meteorological information (including data on wind, currents and weather conditions); and nautical charts, among others.
The research project Platform for the development, testing and validation of a digital oceanographic twin (POSEIDON), proposes the implementation of a platform that allows the development, testing and validation of a Digital Oceanographic Twin (DOT), oriented to a support system for navigation and decision making on board naval platforms. In order to define a DOT of these characteristics, a platform based on a triple-level distributed architecture was chosen: (i) central node, (ii) on-board node, and (iii) support node.
PICUD-2023-02: DnTAA
Study of the behavior of elements and systems associated with the sealing between ship compartments and characterization of sound levels generated by vibrating elements using advanced acoustics techniques.
Principal Researcher: Francisco Javier Rodríguez Rodríguez
Research Team: Gerardo González-Cela Echevarría, Pedro Carrasco Pena, Jorge Eiras Barca
Budget: 12.600 €
Execution period and status: One year (from 17/01/2024 to 16/01/2025). In progress.
Summary: At present, the inspection and testing plan developed to check the tightness between ship compartments involves not very rigorous methods, despite the fact that it is essential to maintain this property in order to ensure internal security. On the other hand, low noise and acoustic emissions in a warship are considered essential. In this context, trying to alleviate the existing deficit, this research project aims to study, in different situations of use (condition, dimensions, maintenance, recent anomalies …), the tightness between ship premises in relation to the behavior of the elements and systems associated with this property (doors, bulkheads and enclosures). For this purpose, acoustic information will be collected by means of in situ measurements, the subsequent diagnosis of laboratory results will be carried out and the pertinent conclusions derived from the process will be obtained. Likewise, the characterization of the sound levels generated by radiating elements and the detection of possible anomalous operation will be carried out. All this, applying advanced acoustics techniques, a novel system that is assuming great importance as reflected by its use in the automotive, naval and aeronautical industries. Based on the lessons learned, it is intended to develop, as a result of the research, a protocol for the maintenance of the Navy fleet to improve the interior acoustic quality and increase the efficiency of the maintenance programs.
PICUD-2023-03: BATMAP3D
Multiscale LiDAR data fusion for topo-bathymetric mapping of the coastline
Principal Researcher: Iván Puente Luna
Research Team: Xavier Núñez Prieto, Francisco Troncoso Pastoriza
Budget: 9.400 €
Execution period and status: One year (from 17/01/2024 to 16/01/2025). In progress.
Summary: The increasing population growth and the unknown extent that climate change could have on coastal areas, makes it necessary to address with new prediction methods the different hazards that affect these areas, which could lead to erosion or flooding processes with very negative socioeconomic consequences. To this end, it is essential to investigate the slope of the primary interface between the land and the ocean, which is fundamental in coastal processes, but which presents difficulties for its mapping as it constitutes systems with complex, highly non-linear dynamics. The project focuses on exploring the feasibility of merging LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data from satellite and terrestrial platforms acquired at different time intervals to create detailed maps of underwater topography in shallow waters. This approach therefore seeks to develop a methodology to monitor coastal areas using LiDAR from satellites, particularly ICESat-2, and to integrate these data with the information obtained by a topographic LiDAR system to make local measurements on beaches during low tide, thus completing the bathymetric information currently generated by other systems.
PICUD-2023-04: AnMoCo
Analysis and modeling of CO2 concentration in indoor spaces and watercraft of the CUD-ENM and the ENM
Principal Researcher: Pedro Carrasco Pena
Research Team: Jorge Eiras Barca, Débora Cores Carrera, Gerardo González-Cela Echevarría, María Álvarez Hernández, Alicia Vázquez Carpentier , Rodrigo Mariño Villar
Work Team: Pedro Fernández de Córdoba Castellano (UPV), Jesús Cillero Ares (Armada), ENERGESYS
Budget: 5.200 €
Execution period and status: One year (from 17/01/2024 to 16/01/2025). In progress.
Summary: In cities we have been trying for years to improve a factor that kills millions of people every year: “Pollution, typically in cities, caused nine million deaths worldwide in 2019 (…) In fact, in 2019, of the nine million deaths worldwide attributable to pollution, poor air quality, both domestic and ambient, was responsible for 6.67 million.” (Abstract from The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health Report Update,). This study gives a clear picture of the consequences of pollution on individual survival, and makes it clear that environmental control contributes to improving people’s health [Ambient (outdoor) air pollution – who.int]
Improving outdoor environmental quality usually involves broad policies and consensus. When we go to smaller spaces, unilateral measures can be adopted to improve their air quality: use of CO2-reactive paints in parking lot or tunnel interiors, ventilation in commercial areas… and if we go to even smaller spaces, quality control and improvement can be carried out with more affordable measures but which depend, in the first instance, on monitoring.
Concern about indoor air quality has increased considerably in recent years due to the explosion of infections during the SARS-COV 2 pandemic. In that case, various actions were taken in different fields, from organizational elements to ventilation, cleaning and disinfection measures as described in the INSST or the Center for Disease Detection and Control (CDC) guidelines.
The strategies used in ventilation have been hesitant from the beginning of the application of the measures, demonstrating that good ventilation of spaces, such as classrooms or small work spaces, minimizes the risk of contagion in an objective way.
In works published by different organizations such as NTP 243: Indoor environments: air quality (insst.es), NTP 549: Carbon dioxide in the evaluation of indoor air quality (insst.es), How to improve indoor air quality | US EPA, European regulations (miteco.gob.es), or the National Plan for Health and Environment (sanidad.gob.es), general behavioral guidelines are established to proceed and ventilate mechanically following catalogs that are not based on static parameters outside of any intelligent control. This makes the use of sensors from the field of the Internet of Things (IoT) an element to keep in mind in the environmental control of enclosed spaces.
On the other hand, the latest information that directly relates CO2 concentration to the spread of the COVID-19 virus makes it advisable to subject ventilation processes in enclosed spaces to intelligent control.
If we start from the normal CO2 concentrations in open spaces, which range between 360 ppm in a clear area outside cities, 650-750 ppm in cities and over 1000 ppm in enclosed spaces, we will have a determining element of air quality.
With all the above, it seems advisable to install environmental monitoring systems in enclosed spaces that allow us to dynamically determine the concentration of CO2. There are various systems of this type on the market, making IoT systems ideal for this purpose, which allow data storage for subsequent data mining and processing, as well as active tools for immediate control and decision making on ventilation.
The overall objective of this project is to lay the groundwork for improving the environmental conditions of the indoor spaces at the CUD-ENM, the ENM and the training launches. To this end, we will start by installing sensors for environmental control in order to determine the ventilation needs of the monitored premises.
With the data obtained from the different sensors we will carry out an analysis prior to the construction of models that can be extrapolated to spaces of similar characteristics in buildings or ships. This analysis should not only be oriented on a control of possible agents such as viruses, but should go beyond that, considering other factors such as premature aging due to breathing in environments with high concentrations of CO2, elevation of blood pressure, headaches, loss of concentration or exhaustion.
PICUD-2023-05: BEAMSAT
Development of a system to demonstrate beamforming techniques for satellite signals with application to passive radar and GNSS spoofing
Principal Researcher: José María Núñez Ortuño
Research Team: José González Coma, Francisco Troncoso Pastoriza, Rubén Nocelo López
Budget: 6.233 €
Execution period and status: One year (from 17/01/2024 to 16/01/2025). In progress.
Summary: For the last two years, several members of the research group “Computer Engineering and Telecommunications (INFOTEC)” of the Defense University Center at the Spanish Naval Academy, have been working on two lines of vital importance for Defense and Security: “Jamming and spoofing of GNSS signals” and “Passive Radar Applications”.
The first line consists of the development of tools and procedures for jamming and spoofing GNSS signals for navigation and weather. The advances achieved by the group in this field, thanks largely to the project “Development of an advanced demonstrator for the perturbation of systems using GNSS (PASPOS)” (PICUD-2022-04), funded by the CUD-ENM, have allowed them to develop a low-cost functional prototype for attacks against GPS receivers on board fleet units, which has been used with some degree of success in various campaigns such as MARSEC 22 and 23, NEMO-22 and MINEX-23.
The effectiveness of the attacks carried out is almost 100% in the case that the “victim” is a civilian GPS receiver. In the case of military receivers, it has only been possible to achieve jamming (denial of service) in some units, but not position and/or time spoofing. The military GPS uses a very robust and protected (encrypted) signal that prevents this type of attack.
Faced with this challenge, the aforementioned team intends to continue working on new attack methods that would make it possible to spoof this type of signal. One of the most promising solutions is the regeneration and retransmission of the original satellite signals by introducing a slight deliberate and controlled delay in each of them. To achieve this objective it is necessary to have an antenna system that allows selective electronic pointing to each of the satellites or beamforming to spatially filter the signal from each of them.
The second line of work of the team, initiated with the internal project of CUD-ENM called “Analysis of MIMO configurations for the improvement of the performance of Passive Radars with application to the Maritime field (MIRAPAMAR)” (PICUD-2021-06) has allowed the team to develop a passive radar demonstrator for maritime targets, fully operational, which uses as illuminators of opportunity the digital terrestrial television transmitters (DVB-T) in the environment of Spanish Naval Academy. An intrinsic limitation of this prototype is its inability to detect offshore targets, i.e. when there is no DVB-T coverage beyond a certain distance from the coast.
Many researchers are working on the use of other illuminators of opportunity, especially satellite transmitters. The proliferation of LEO satellite constellations in recent years means that signals from positioning satellites (GPS and GALILEO), internet services (STARLINK and INMARSAT), communications (DVB-S), earth observation (PAZ), etc., are always available almost anywhere in the world. To be able to use the signals from these satellites in a passive radar system, it is necessary to have an array of antennas that allow a correct pointing using beamforming techniques.
It is clear that the two lines of work of the group coincide in the need to have an array of satellite antennas with which to perform the pointing, filtering and tracking of the different satellites of a constellation, whose signals can be used in a passive radar and GNSS scenario respectively.
NEW NANOFIBER-BASED FABRICS FOR MARINE CORPS UNIFORMITY (ELEC4CIM)
Principal researcher: Jesús del Val García
email: jesusdv@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
One of the most basic and fundamental aspects for the correct performance of the Armed Forces (FAS) in the assigned missions is the uniformity/attire of the deployed units, especially during the development of missions outside the main bases, where the environment and climate can be of an unknown and changing nature, in addition to the potential of possible hostile threats. Uniformity plays a key role in providing units with basic elements of passive defense such as mimicry with the environment (pixelated uniforms of Forest or Desert campaign, for example) and protect the user, to some extent, from inclement weather and the environment. Within the FAS, the Marine Corps (CIM) as an integral part of the Navy, is focused on being able to act and deploy quickly and effectively in a multitude of scenarios of great variability, both climatic and environmental, passing in short periods of time from situations of immersion in water to desert areas of high temperatures, extreme cold or potentially dangerous situations caused by a hostile environment, such as fire. Because of this, CIM presents a large number of suits/garments focused on certain circumstances: jackets and trouser covers with a certain degree of waterproofness, thermal jackets and pants, and uniforms made of fabrics with a certain thermal protection capacity against heat and flames (according to EN ISO 15025:16). However, in all cases they are function-specific garments, which can be counterproductive in various unforeseen or changing situations (reduced mobility, thermal alterations, etc.), while complicating logistics and supply management, especially in field environments. A possible solution to this is the unification of the three main properties desired in uniforms (impermeability, thermoregulation and fireproofing), together with other more specific properties in a single garment that allows any situation to be faced with guarantees, no matter how variable it may be. Among the current techniques developed for the manufacture of elements based on fibers with special characteristics, electrospinning stands out for being relatively simple to implement and low cost. It is characterized by the use of electrical rather than mechanical forces to produce fibers with diameters in the nanometer or micrometer range. A priori, the fibers obtained from electrospinning are based on liquid polymeric solutions (natural or synthetic). However, in recent years many authors have expanded the use of the technique to the manufacture of metallic and ceramic nanofibers, expanding its range of applications to flame retardant systems. In addition, the versatility of the technique allows easy doping with other elements of the fiber matrix to obtain specific properties, such as ferromagnetism or thermal regulation. This technique requires the preparation of a polymer solution (the polymer to be used diluted in a suitable solvent), which is introduced, by means of a high-precision injection system, in an area subjected to a high electrostatic field that causes the “elongation” of the drop of the injected polymer solution (Taylor cone), forming a jet of polymer solution and generating the desired fibers that are collected in a collector [6 – 7].
DEVELOPMENT OF NANO-ENHANCED FLUIDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCREASE OF SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS (NanoEnSol)
Principal researcher: Javier Pérez Vallejo
email: jvallejo@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
Energy is a basic need in modern societies, making efficient use and sustainability of supply options indispensable. In addition, gas emissions caused by the consumption of fossil fuels for energy production are the main cause of climate change. Therefore, energy savings and the integration of renewable energy in facilities are the focus of much of the scientific community’s efforts. The Defense Technology and Innovation Strategy ETID-2020 includes as a priority line of research the search for integrated and efficient air conditioning and domestic hot water options for bases and camps that contribute to the reduction of total energy consumption. The main obstacle to improving the energy efficiency of heat exchange systems is the moderate thermal conductivity of the fluids commonly used as working fluids. Nanofluids, dispersions of solid nanoadditives within base fluids, allow the improvement of this property. In addition, nanofluids have also demonstrated improvements in properties such as light absorption. The exhaustive and accurate experimental determination of thermal conductivity is of particular relevance in the process of proposing new nanofluids. The literature confirms that the transient hot-wire method is a reliable technique for the measurement of their thermal conductivity. Solar thermal energy involves the transformation of energy from the sun into heat, to be used in heating or domestic hot water applications. The inexhaustible resource of solar radiation makes this supply option have a high potential both for residential use and for bases and camps located in isolated operational areas, providing a higher degree of autonomy and continuity of supply. Solar installations are particularly exposed to different meteorological variables, which makes it difficult to reproduce test conditions and, therefore, to make rigorous comparisons between working fluids. The control of these variables can be carried out in a more exhaustive way in a test bench designed ad hoc for the experimental determination of the energy performance of the fluids. In this project, the aim is to propose new working fluids with improved performances for solar thermal installations for residential and base and camp heating and domestic hot water applications. To this end, new mono (dispersions of a single nanomaterial) and hybrid (dispersion of two or more nanomaterials) nanofluids will be designed by selecting the most suitable nanoadditives based on rigorous characterizations. The focus will then be put on the optimization of the temporal stability of the dispersions and on the experimental determination of the thermophysical and optical profiles of the proposed nanofluids. Special attention will be paid to the thermal conductivity behavior, which will be determined by a newly acquired conductivity meter using the transient hot-wire technique. The analysis of these results will allow the selection of the nanofluids with the highest potential. Subsequently, a test bench based on a solar thermal collector and a controlled light source will be designed and constructed. The previously selected nanofluids will be analyzed in the new bench and their heat transfer performances in convection and radiation processes will be determined. Through this complete characterization, it will be possible to validate installations with higher efficiencies, lower energy consumption and a higher degree of autonomy.
MODULAR AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE (MoAUV)
Principal researcher: Carlos Pérez Collazo
email: carlos.perez.collazo@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The war between Russia and Ukraine is demonstrating the enormous tactical advantage of low-cost unmanned systems in hybrid and multi-domain warfare scenarios. The incorporation of autonomous vehicles capable of operating without human intervention in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is an interesting line of research, for the collection of data from the environment, because of the importance these have for operating safely and facilitating sea dominance. This makes necessary the development of new concepts of low-cost naval platforms adaptable to different operational situations. Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) have proven to be very useful for carrying out many different activities, both in the world of security and defense as well as in civil society. This has led to the development of multiple types of UUVs increasingly specialized towards the execution of specific activities, which is a logistical challenge from the point of view of the operator of such systems. The Modular Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (MoAUV) research project proposes the design of a low-cost Modular Underwater Vehicle (MUV). MoAUV is based on modular design, allowing its configuration to operate in different operational scenarios (OS), for example: as ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), as AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) or as an underwater glider (Autonomous Underwater Glider). The platform consists of a series of independent modules that can be used interchangeably, including a stabilization and power module, a buoyancy control module, a communications and mission control module, a module adaptable to different payloads and a series of interchangeable outer hulls.
VIRTUAL COMBAT LABORATORY FOR IMMERSIVE SIMULATION OF TACTICAL MILITARY TRAINING (TACLAB 360)
Principal researcher: Xavier Núñez Nieto
email : xnnieto@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The current proliferation of the booming Fourth Generation Industry (i4.0) has led to a significant increase in the incursion and consolidation of the digital world within the Armed Forces (FAS). In this operational framework, the presence of techniques and methodologies oriented to virtual simulation for military training, is reflected in multiple gamification projects that encompass the three armies: Army, Land and Air. This project proposes the use of this technology for the hyper-realistic 3D modeling of a “battle lab”, which serves as a spherical virtual training platform (360º) for the tactical combat training of specialists of the Spanish Armed Forces (FAS). By means of various advanced computer-aided design techniques (ACAD), the characteristic graphic environment will be recreated and its photorealistic simulation will be carried out. In addition, the computer-aided modeling will be complemented with 360º virtual reality technology (VR360) to achieve a totally immersive sensation for the user and the elements of the scenario will be given a life of their own by means of Artificial Intelligence (AI), reliably recreating the different Rules of Engagement (ROA) involved in the real battlefield. In the same way, by means of 3D Printing technology, the additive manufacturing of the coupling components between the virtual stage and the shooting device necessary for its connectivity will be carried out. The whole process will be carried out through the combination of different techniques and methodologies belonging to the modern Industry 4.0, which defines the essence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: ACAD, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Retro-engineering and 3D Printing.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED DEMONSTRATOR FOR THE PERTURBATION OF SYSTEMS USING GNSS (PASPOS)
Principal researcher: José María Núñez Ortuño
email: jnunez@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The widespread use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) reaches all domains (air, land, maritime, space, cyber and cognitive) and affects a multitude of platforms and systems: aircraft, ships, vehicles, C4 networks, individual combatant, GPS-guided munitions, etc. GNSS is, today, the primary source of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT, Position, Navigation and Timing) for military applications. In fact, the GPS Precise Positioning Service (PPS) is the main source of PNT for NATO, and its dependence may condition some operations. The Navy, aware of the high dependence of our systems and platforms on GNSS-based PNT sources [1], is conducting tests and exercises, such as MARSEC (Maritime Security) or NEMO (NATO Electromagnetic Operations) to determine the level of resilience of GNSS systems embarked in its fleet to jamming and spoofing attacks [2].
Until now, perturbation tests have always used equipment deployed by the NCIA (NATO Communications and Information Agency) or by NATO’s JEWCS (Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff). Jammers such as the GESTA Tactical Electronic Warfare System (GESTA Sistema Táctico de Guerra Electrónica) of the 31st Electronic Warfare Regiment (REW-31) of the Spanish Army have also been used. However, the Navy does not currently have specialized equipment for GNSS signal jamming. In the last NEMO-22 maneuvers, in the spirit of shedding light on the robustness of PNT information sources on Navy ships, a CUD-ENM team succeeded, by means of a fortunate prototype, to perform an effective spoofing attack of GPS signals at close range against a Navy ship, positioning some of its navigation instruments in a false location and altering the normal operation of other systems. This project proposes the development of a demonstrator system, called PASPOS, that will allow vulnerability testing of GNSS-dependent systems onboard Navy units. The demonstrator, which will be portable, small in size and easy to move, will allow jamming and spoofing attacks (asynchronous and synchronous) with great flexibility in its operating parameters. This system will be composed of a set of hardware elements, some of which are already available in the CUD, and the logic to govern it (software). This software will be developed entirely by the research team. The PASPOS demonstrator will also allow research into new methods of cyber-attacks on GNSS-based systems, as well as countermeasure techniques to mitigate the effects of such attacks.
DEVELOPMENT OF PREDICTIVE MODELS OF RADON GAS BEHAVIOR IN BUILDINGS FOR DESIGNING MITIGATION STRATEGIES (RnMod)
Principal researcher: Arturo González Gil
email: arturogg@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
Radon gas is a radioactive element found in the environment as a result of the decay of uranium in the earth’s crust. It tends to accumulate indoors, posing a health risk; specifically, it is associated with an increased likelihood of lung cancer. In order to comply with current regulations and minimize the levels of exposure to this gas in existing buildings, which have not been built with any anti-radon measures, it is essential to advance in the development of predictive models accurate enough to design efficient mitigation measures based on them. However, current studies are the result of modeling very controlled environments (emission sources originating from test tubes with a known proportion of uranium, low radon levels, etc.) that are far from real situations and in which a multitude of simplifications have been assumed, being their accuracy and possible extrapolation very limited.
This project aims to develop a tool based on predictive models to simulate the behavior of radon gas in real indoor spaces, in order to compare different mitigation strategies and select the most appropriate for each building. The main challenge to achieve this lies in the great variability of radon concentration over time and in different locations. This fact is a consequence of the numerous variables that combine its effects, making it difficult to simulate its behavior. In order to obtain the aforementioned tool, firstly, a methodology will be developed to identify the main sources of radon immission by means of a reduced number of measurements. Secondly, a model will be developed based on machine learning techniques capable of predicting the immission rate into the building according to the main variables on which it depends. Next, a CFD model capable of predicting how radon gas behaves in an interior space will be developed, taking into account the radon immission rate and the ventilation conditions to which it is subjected. Finally, the developed models will be applied to define the optimal mitigation strategy in a given building.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL STRUCTURES FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND PHOSPHATE RECOVERY (P-FIND)
Principal researcher: Rosa Devesa Rey
email: rosa.devesa.rey@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The main objective of this project is the manufacture of membranes for wastewater treatment. The parameters to be evaluated will be the presence of colored compounds and phosphate concentration. Other parameters of interest, such as organic matter, suspended materials, etc., will be included in the monitoring. For this purpose, a series of sequential stages are proposed that will evaluate the efficacy of the treatments in batch tests and, subsequently, in continuous tests. First, a large active surface area adsorbent will be synthesized, based on lamellar double hydroxide (HDL) structures that can be functionalized with Ni/Al or Ca/Fe mixtures. These structures have been previously used by the research team for the recovery of phosphate and ibuprofen, with adsorption results up to 70% of the initial concentration. The functionalization of HDLs aims to significantly increase this percentage. On the other hand, the project tries to find a solution for continuous treatments, with significantly shorter residence times. For this purpose, functionalized membranes will be designed with mixtures of resin and activated carbon, which will be added to increase the porosity of the membrane and thus contribute to the retention of contaminants. The membranes will be obtained by additive manufacturing, which allows the filters to be adapted to the treatment systems, exponentially increasing their versatility. This membrane will undergo a coating process with the previously synthesized HDLs and the removal conditions will be tested under these conditions. Finally, the project will address phosphate recovery by crystallization methods in struvite or hydroxyapatite, evaluating the purity of the compound, its phytotoxicity and its potential as a fertilizer, by means of germination tests. The effect of the doping agents on the activity of HDL in the reduction of phosphate and colored compounds in polluted waters, the role of the membrane in the retention of phosphate and the optimization of the operating parameters of the functionalized membrane constitute the central points of the project: on the one hand, the decontamination of the wastewater treated with the functionalized membranes will be investigated, checking its mitigation with spectrophotomeric techniques and its detoxification through phytotoxicity tests. At this point, it is of great interest to check the feasibility of the phosphate recovery process, which would result in obtaining a geostrategic product with high added value. As a final stage of the project, the data obtained will be used to obtain a mathematical model that allows to replicate, with an acceptable degree of error, the conditions that occur in a real scenario.
UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION OF SHIPS, NAVAL ARTIFACTS AND PORT FACILITIES (SUNTIBIP)
Principal researcher: Carlos Casqueiro Placer
email: ccasqueiro@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The proliferation of unmanned vehicles (UV) in the aerial (UAV), marine (ROV, USV, UUV) and terrestrial (UGV) environment is notorious. Vehicles for surveillance and inspection, models dedicated to transport and combat units are increasingly present in the civil, military and security fields, both professionally and for leisure. Additive manufacturing, on the other hand, supported by computerized design and simulation processes, allows the use of unique parts adapted to the needs of our designs, at a reduced cost. At the same time, it facilitates the agile modification of prototypes, advancing the design process more quickly, and provides the user with the ability to manufacture their own spare parts or modified parts, with a reduced investment in equipment and relative simplicity in the process.
SUNTIBIP aims to design and manufacture a system consisting of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) of small dimensions and low cost, supported by additive manufacturing and the open source control environment ArduSub, intended for navigation at low immersion depths, sufficient to carry out the inspection of the living work of ships and port facilities, and its control station, portable. The submarine will be able to be operated remotely or act semi-autonomously, with predefined missions, and will communicate with the station with a mixed system, wired (up to the communication relay unit) and wireless (between it and the station). In addition, the possibility of using wireless communication in both segments will be explored, through the use of acoustic modems for the underwater segment.
TRAINING BOAT DIGITAL TWIN (TRABODIT)
Principal researcher: José Antonio González Prieto
email: jose.gonzalez@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The main objective of the Training Boat Digital Twin (TraBoDiT) research project is to develop a methodology for the creation of digital twins from existing boats (training boats). Its development has a relevant importance in procedures such as:
- Active safety systems and predictive control.
- Fault tolerant systems and predictive maintenance.
- Collaborative systems.
- Impact avoidance.
The use of simulators that integrate models with fidelity with respect to the maneuverability conditions of the boats that military personnel will handle during their training sessions is a particularly relevant objective in the educational field. TraBoDiT proposes the creation and validation of models related to the dynamics of a naval platform, for which it is proposed to install a sensor network in the training boats and use techniques based on dynamic models and data analysis tools (machine learning) to merge the recorded information. It is intended that the models obtained as a result of TraBoDiT can be integrated, in a second stage of development, in the SIMNAV simulator of the ENM so that they simulate, with a certain level of accuracy and robustness, the behavior of real boats.
OSINT PLATFORM BASED ON AI TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY ON TWITTER (POSINTIA)
Principal researcher: Norberto Fernández García
email: norberto@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The objective of this project is the development of an OSINT platform (Open Source Intelligence or intelligence produced from public information) based on artificial intelligence techniques, for the monitoring of the community of users of the social network Twitter of interest for Defense.
The main expected result of the project is the development of a technological demonstrator of a system that, in an automated way (although potentially supervised by humans), allows to extract relevant information from the community of users on Twitter that publishes content (in Spanish and/or English) related to the field of Defense. To this end, a set of requirements, seed accounts, keywords and/or topics of interest provided by experts in the field of Defense will be used as a starting point. With this information, we will search for and select (using multivariate statistical techniques, artificial intelligence, etc.) Twitter users who are candidates to be included in the community to be observed, and then extract (using natural language processing techniques, event or anomaly detection, etc.) public information from their accounts. Among the information of potential interest to be obtained from the system, in addition to the community itself, would be: alerts of misuse of information, thematic trends, evolution of the community, etc.
LOW-COST BATHYMETRIC FRAMEWORK FOR INFANTRY OPERATIONS IN SHALLOW WATER (LAMINAE)
Principal researcher: Iván Puente Luna
email: ipuente@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The determination of detailed bathymetric information is key for near-shore activities, such as seabed reconnaissance missions carried out by Marine Corps units as part of amphibious operations, which are currently performed manually by divers. It also has applications in coastal engineering, sedimentary processes, archaeological mapping or biological research.
This project proposes the development and integration of a framework composed of a low-cost Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), with an underwater camera and a positioning system, and a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for the management and use of the data and information generated from the photogrammetric models. In addition, the SDI will integrate other sources of open data at both national and European level, including State Ports (SP), the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy (HIM) and EMODnet.
This tool will support the study, analysis, evolution and marine planning tasks carried out by the Marines during amphibious operations.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF NEW MATERIALS FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC WATER TREATMENT (FAMOH2O)
Principal researcher: Jesús del Val García
email: jesusdv@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
One of the major current problems in water treatment systems is the deficient elimination of micropollutants of pharmaceutical and personal care origin, whose presence has increased significantly in recent decades due to the high consumption of medicines and cosmetic products in today’s society. Due to the fact that water treatment plants are not usually designed for the presence of this type of pollutants, it is necessary to adopt complementary measures that allow their correct elimination.
With this problem in mind, the present project aims to eliminate organic compounds in wastewater by combining photocatalysis with additive manufacturing. Starting from a photocatalytic material generated by the sol-gel technique, based on silane/siloxane and titanium oxide doped with nanoparticles as photocatalyst, a three-dimensional structure of hybrid material, highly porous, with a high surface area and high regeneration capacity (reusable), easily adaptable to water treatment systems, and allowing the degradation of pollutants at low cost, will be manufactured by 3D printing.
FUNDAMENTALS OF RECOVERY OF SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH ESCHERICHIA COLI AND ANTIBIOTICS THROUGH MYCORREDIATION STRATEGIES (FUNGI)
Principal researcher: Alicia Vázquez Carpentier
email: avcarpentier@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The presence of E. coli in soils can have consequences on crop growth and water contamination, due to the possibility of being washed into the groundwater table during heavy rainfall events. On the other hand, current purification systems are not specifically designed to remove antibiotics from water.
The main objective of this project is to evaluate the bioremediation capacity of fungi in soils contaminated with Escherichia coli and antibiotics. Mycoremediation techniques with the potential to mineralize organic pollutants in situ with the minimum disturbance of the system will be used, through the in vitro culture of several types of mycelia that will be exposed to varying concentrations of the selected pollutants, evaluating the kinetics of mineralization, the evaluation of toxicity and the quality of the resulting product.
ANALYSIS OF MIMO CONFIGURATIONS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF PASSIVE RADARS WITH APPLICATION TO THE MARITIME FIELD (MIRAPAMAR)
Principal researcher: José María Núñez Ortuño
email: jnunez@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radars are a recent development in the radar world inspired by the previous success of MIMO techniques in communications. These technologies can improve detection capability and coverage, improving conventional passive radars based on array processing.
The objective of the project is to analyze and evaluate the different MIMO techniques that can be used in a passive radar system in the maritime and/or naval field in order to improve the performance in the detection of low reflectivity targets in coastal environments of complex orography.
After the evaluation of different alternatives, it is intended to develop a small demonstrator to evaluate these schemes in a scenario of maritime targets and digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) illuminators.
CONSTRUCTION OF A PILOT PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION, PURIFICATION AND STORAGE OF HYDROGEN WITH METALLIC HYDRIDES FROM GLYCERIN FOR USE IN SUBMARINES WITH AIP FUEL CELL SYSTEMS (ProPuAlH2)
Principal researcher: Rocío Maceiras Castro
email: rmaceiras@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
This project proposes the construction of a pilot plant for obtaining, purifying, compressing and storing hydrogen from glycerin. This completes the process initiated with the project awarded in the previous call, which consisted of the construction of a reformer for obtaining hydrogen from glycerin. In this case, the purification, compression and storage in metal hydrides of the hydrogen produced in the reforming process is added.
In parallel to the process of obtaining hydrogen, a global simulation of the process is proposed based on experimental data. These simulations would allow its subsequent scaling and thus to analyze the feasibility of its implementation in submarines, for an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system in fuel cell submarines.
SAAM PROJECT: ASSISTED POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR AT-SEA PROVISIONING OF NAVY SHIPS
Principal researcher: Paula Gómez Pérez
email: paula@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
Fleet ships often spend long periods of time at sea without making stopovers, so it is common for them to need refuelling on the high seas. In the refuelling manoeuvre, the ship requiring refuelling must sail parallel to the logistic support ship to exchange supplies, materials or even personnel. Maintaining direction and speed in conditions of low visibility or rough seas can be extremely difficult and dangerous. Currently, the distance line is used as a reference, but it is insufficient and unreliable.
The SAAM Project implements an Assisted Positioning System for the at-sea provisioning manoeuvre, providing accurate information in real time and under a highly intuitive interface of the navigation data of the receiving and supplying ship, including: lateral and ahead distance, speeds of both ships, and dangerous trend indicators.
VIRTUAL BATTLE LABORATORY FOR IMMERSIVE FIREARM SHOOTING TRAINING (BATTLELAB360)
Principal researcher: Xavier Núñez Nieto
email: xnnieto@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
Fourth Generation Industry (i4.0) has meant a significant increase in the consolidation of the digital world within the Armed Forces (FAS). This project proposes the use of this technology for the hyper-realistic 3D modelling of a battle lab (battlelab), which will serve as a virtual training platform for the military practice of shooting with firearms. By combining various i4.0 techniques, the characteristic graphical environment and user/device interaction will be recreated. In addition, the different Rules of Engagement (ROA) involved in the real battlefield will be recreated and a fully immersive user experience will be obtained. All of this is in accordance with the lines of interest established by the Technology and Innovation Strategy (ETID) of the Ministry of Defence, as described in the Technological Goal (MT.6.4.1.) referring to the modelling of the battlefield and its environment.
BIORREACTOR DESIGN AND OPTIMISATION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF NUTRIENTS AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOUNDS IN WATER (Acrónimo: BNC)
Principal researcher: Rosa Devesa Rey
email: rosa.devesa.rey@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The main objective of this project is the design and optimisation of a bioreactor for the simultaneous removal of nutrients and pharmaceutical micropollutants from water. The elimination of the proposed compounds will be carried out through the design of a bioreactor equipped with an active filter with a high surface area and biological activity: on the one hand, a ceramic filter functionalised with fibres of an adsorbent material will be manufactured in the laboratory by electrospinning, obtaining a material with a high surface area and uniform pore size, suitable for the adsorption of phosphates. This filter would also allow the eventual desorption and recovery of phosphate, which gives a geostrategic dimension to this stage of the project. On the other hand, the bioreactor will favour the growth of a biofilm composed of heterotrophic microorganisms, photosynthetic bacteria and algae, connected in a complex matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (SPE).
The effect of the biofilm on the reduction and/or detoxification of contaminated water, the role of the active filter in the retention of phosphate and the optimisation of the bioreactor’s operating parameters are the main points of the project: on the one hand, the detoxification of pharmaceutical compounds treated with a bioreactor will be investigated, checking their mitigation with chromatographic techniques and their detoxification by means of phytotoxicity tests; on the other hand, the efficiency of the adsorption process referring to phosphates will be evaluated using spectrophotometric techniques measured in the water column. As a final stage of the project, the data obtained will be used to obtain a mathematical model that allows the conditions that occur in a real scenario to be replicated, with an acceptable degree of error.
STUDY OF RADON GAS BEHAVIOUR IN ENCLOSED SPACES AND INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY CONTROL THROUGH ENERGY-EFFICIENT VENTILATION (RNVENT)
Principal researcher: Arturo González Gil
email: arturogg@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The aim of this project is to advance our knowledge on the behaviour of radon gas in indoor spaces and to optimise air renewal as a mitigation measure. Firstly, the experimental study of the different factors that determine the evolution of radon gas in enclosed spaces, including meteorological, constructive and geological factors, will be addressed. As a methodological novelty in this field of study, georadar and advanced acoustic techniques will be applied. Subsequently, a numerical model will be developed to evaluate and predict the behaviour of radon gas in different ventilation scenarios. A transitory model will also be developed to simulate the operation of the ventilation and air-conditioning systems of the premises under study in different working conditions. The main outcome of the project will be the development of a comprehensive tool to facilitate the design of optimal ventilation strategies to ensure adequate levels of air quality and thermal comfort with minimum energy demand.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PLANT BY REFORMING GLYCERINE FOR POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION IN SUBMARINES WITH AIP TECHNOLOGY
Principal researcher: Rocío Maceiras Castro
email: rmaceiras@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
This project proposes the study of the glycerine reforming technique for the production of hydrogen and its possible use “in situ” in fuel cells. This whole process of hydrogen production and use would be oriented towards a possible implementation in submarines with air-independent propulsion systems, commonly known as AIP or anaerobic systems. To this end, hydrogen production is proposed, using the steam reforming technique applied to glycerine.
In order to achieve this objective, the construction of a steam reformer at pilot plant level and its subsequent commissioning is proposed. Another very important aspect to be taken into account is the purity of the hydrogen obtained in the reforming process, since the presence of impurities can poison the catalyst of the cell. In order to minimise this circumstance and achieve the operating ratios of the fuel cell, based on the experimental data, a hydrogen purification stage will be simulated
STUDY OF THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF MACROCOMPOSITES WITH THE ADDITION OF PHASE-CHANGE MATERIALS
Principal researcher: Guillermo Lareo Calviño
email: glareo@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
Phase change materials (PCM) are one of the most widely used options as a passive energy storage method, given their great thermal capacity to absorb-release heat in solid-liquid state changes, and the materials used can do so in applications that allow absorbing thermal energy peaks, such as the heating of a battery.
On the other hand, additive manufacturing is bringing about a revolution in the field of custom manufacturing. The current manufacturing of PCM in powder or plates makes heat absorption difficult because of the irregular surfaces or small dimensions of the parts. It is in these scenarios that the need arises to create PCM coatings adapted to the surface to be treated.
SIREN – ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM FOR MARITIME ENVIRONMENT RECOGNITION
Principal researcher: Miguel Rodelgo Lacruz
email: mrodelgo@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The aim of the project is to develop a technological demonstrator that allows the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques to the Maritime Environment Knowledge (CEM) with the purpose of improving the operational procedures developed by the Navy from the Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Center (COVAM), in charge of the supervision of the maritime spaces of national interest. Specifically, the demonstrator will receive the AIS (Automatic Identification System) data stream containing real-time vessel and positioning information, and will use data analysis and artificial intelligence techniques to detect scenarios and anomalies of interest defined by COVAM. Due to the high rate of messages transmitted, it is necessary to analyze and select Big Data technologies for the storage and processing of information in real time and the research and development of Data Analytics and Machine Learning techniques to process and extract knowledge from the large volume of data involved.
DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMONSTRATOR FOR UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATIONS AT ULF USING WS PROTOCOLS
Principal researcher: José María Núñez Ortuño
email: jnunez@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
In underwater ultra-low frequency (ULF) acoustic communications, the attenuation of the marine environment is low, so there is great potential for very long distance contacts. However, the use of ULF carriers leads to very narrow bandwidths and therefore a very low transfer rate. On the other hand, the heterogeneity of the underwater environment over long distances means that the received signal suffers from fading and has a low signal-to-noise ratio.
In very long distance HF radio communications, digital communications protocols are used, characterized by using Weak Signals (WS) in reception, but robust against channel fading.
Given the analogy between the radio channel for ionospheric communications and the underwater channel, this project aims to investigate the application of WS protocols in underwater acoustic communications.
It is proposed to develop a demonstrator to study the performance of WS protocols.
As an application example, long-distance data communication using simple messages and voice communication using a low-speed voice-text-data-text-voice conversion technique will be tested.
PROCESSING AUDIO AND NATURAL LANGUAGE FOR NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS TASKS (PANNACOTA)
Principal researcher: Milagros Fernández Gavilanes
Email: mfgavilanes@cud.uvigo.es
SUMMARY
The oceans are an important means of communication and transportation. Worldwide maritime traffic density has experienced substantial growth in recent years. This growth has led to an increase in VHF band radio communications. Considering that the number of simultaneous voice communications that can be handled by a human operator is limited, monitoring these exchanges would require more personnel than are available for the task.
The PANNACOTA project aims to obtain a system to support the monitoring of radio conversations in VHF band with the ability to automatically detect those voice communications of relevance. These selected conversations will be analyzed using artificial intelligence techniques, specifically natural language processing, in order to extract information that may be of potential interest to operators involved in surveillance tasks.
