A swarm of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) will be used to monitor artificial reefs off the coast of Cyprus.

Equipped with sensors and high-definition cameras, the AUVs will feed data from the reefs to scientists in the EONIOS project.

The project, launched in June 2024, brings together French AUV developer Arkeocean, the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), Cypriot tech firm SignalGeneriX and French consulting company Lanego. 

This R&D partnership aims to develop a micro-AUV swarm system with docking stations embedded into nature-based artificial reefs. 

The reefs have been designed and built by CMMI with 3D printing techniques using an eco cement mixture.  

The aim of the reefs is to help restore marine habitats because high sea surface temperatures have killed off many coral reefs, specifically the cushion coral that is endemic to the Mediterranean. 

According to Associated Press, CMMI plans to place the reefs in waters off Limassol at a depth of around 20 metres, where sunlight can still reach the seabed.

Zakarias Siokouros, CEO of CMMI, told AP: “The reefs attract everything from vegetation to large fish and for waters off Cyprus where there isn’t enough food for fish, we aim to create the appropriate environment to bring such fish there.”

A trial run of the EONIOS project is currently under way off Cyprus’ Ayia Napa marina.

The AUVs can remain underwater for up to a month while continuously sending data to the CMMI team. If any illegal fishing or encroaching boats are detected in protected waters, CMMI can notify local authorities immediately.

This, says Siokouros, will help “protect” the artificial reefs, which in turn will attract fish and build up their stocks.  

Unlike larger tethered submersibles, Arkeocean’s micro-AUVS can carry out surveillance and send 3D data at significantly less cost. 

Tamara Brizard from Arkeocean told AP: “Our goal is to make a system under which six of our mini-drones can do the same work for the price of one conventional drone.”

The AUVs, carrying 5kg of sensors and other payloads, can currently operate at depths of 300 metres. Powered by battery thrusters, the AUVs can move through the ocean stealthily and avoid detection.

For this reason, Arkeocean is also targeting its mini-drones at defence operations, such as surveillance in restricted waters, and monitoring offshore oil and gas operations and wind farms in the energy sector.  

The AUVs can roam along undersea currents, extending battery life, and operate anywhere across the oceans with their satellite antennae from global satellite communications company Iridium.