Review of unmanned aerial systems for the use as maritime surveillance assets

Abstract

The paper presents key features of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) deployed within the H2020 project Coordination Of Maritime assets for Persistent And Systematic Surveillance (COMPASS2020). The project has been conceived to enhance maritime safety, search and rescue at sea, as well as controlling and monitoring irregular migration and securing the European maritime borders from narcotics smuggling by means of the seamless integration and coordination of several manned and unmanned vehicles, specifically suited for these purposes. In this paper only the aerial segment has been considered, i.e., the Zephyr pseudo-satellite, as well as the AR3 Net Ray and the AR5 Life Ray Evolution crafts. Comparative advantages and disadvantages of these systems are presented, along with their info-communication roles within the project. Also, some directions for further research in the field are specified.