Creating a remote access-ready infrastructure for the future

Due to its inherent characteristics, marine robotics trials require more complex logistics when compared to other robotics fields. Often, high potential research groups are impeded to put into practice their research due to the cost and logistics of deploying marine robots. In recent times, offering access to other research teams has been a focus of several projects. LABUST participates in one of these (EUMarineRobots) and offers its robots and infrastructure to other partners. With the COVID-19 pandemic, trials within the EUMarineRobots project initially planned to take place physically have been transformed to remote access trials. Leveraging from previous work in virtual reality and from recently completed installations, LABUST could easily encompass these trials. Moreover, LABUST has prepared its infrastructure to allow any partner in the world to easily collaborate and test algorithms and devices without the need for physical presence. This is important in the context of marine robotics education as well. A summary of these recent remote trials is included as an example of remote infrastructure access in marine robotics.