No crew on board.
No margin for sensor failure.

The sensors required on an unmanned surface vessel depend on the platform, mission and control architecture. Common requirements include wind speed and direction, GPS, heading, vessel position, fuel level and machinery condition, with temperature, humidity, pressure and other environmental measurements added where required. Gill provides ultrasonic wind sensors, MaxiMet Marine weather stations, liquid level, position and oil-condition sensing for these applications.

Autonomous vessels can measure wind speed and direction using an ultrasonic anemometer mounted in an appropriate position above the vessel structure. Gill ultrasonic wind sensors measure wind without rotating wind-sensing components, with different configurations available for compact, low-power and demanding marine installations.

Wind measurement provides an autonomous vessel with information about the environmental conditions acting on the platform. Wind speed and direction can support navigation, operational decisions, environmental monitoring and other onboard systems. On a moving vessel, wind data can also be combined with speed and heading to determine true wind.

Apparent wind is the wind experienced relative to a moving vessel, while true wind describes the environmental wind independent of the vessel’s movement. True wind can be calculated by combining apparent wind measurement with vessel speed and heading. Gill MaxiMet Marine can perform true-wind calculations on applicable configurations using integrated wind, GPS and compass measurements.

The appropriate weather station depends on the measurements required, environmental exposure, power budget, communications and vessel architecture. Gill MaxiMet Marine provides integrated wind and meteorological measurement with GPS and compass functionality on applicable configurations, while MetConnect provides a modular option where sensors need to be configured or positioned separately.

A USV wind sensor should be selected according to wind-speed range, accuracy, environmental exposure, power consumption, weight, mounting position, communications and any required marine or hazardous-area approvals. Gill provides WindSonic, WindUltra and WindObserver configurations to address different combinations of these requirements.

The wind sensor should be positioned where it can obtain a representative measurement while minimising airflow disturbance from the vessel’s superstructure, masts, antennas and other equipment. The correct position depends on the vessel design and the purpose of the measurement. Gill can provide application guidance on sensor selection and installation.

Ultrasonic wind sensors measure wind speed and direction without rotating cups, vanes or bearings. Removing those mechanical components reduces mechanical complexity and eliminates associated wear from the wind-sensing mechanism. Gill has more than 40 years of experience developing ultrasonic wind measurement for marine and other demanding environments.

Maintenance requirements can be reduced by selecting sensing technologies with fewer mechanical components, appropriate environmental protection and suitable power consumption. Gill ultrasonic wind sensors have no rotating wind-sensing components, while its solid-state level and non-contact position technologies also remove mechanical contact from the measurement process.

Fuel level can be monitored using electronic level sensors installed in the vessel’s fuel tank. Gill LevelLite and LevelPro use solid-state capacitive technology without floats or mechanical linkages, providing continuous fuel-level measurement for applications where access to the tank is limited.

There is no single fuel level sensor that is appropriate for every USV. Selection depends on tank geometry, fluid characteristics, required accuracy, temperature, sealing and installation constraints. Gill LevelLite provides a compact solid-state option, while LevelPro is intended for applications where higher measurement precision is required.

Autonomous vessels can use condition-monitoring sensors to identify changes in machinery before they become more serious problems. Gill WearDetect monitors ferrous wear debris in lubricating oil and also reports water presence and oil temperature, providing information about developing wear in engines, gearboxes and thruster drives.

Oil debris monitoring detects wear particles carried in lubricating oil to provide information about the condition of machinery. Gill WearDetect captures ferrous wear debris and distinguishes between fine and coarse particles, while also monitoring water presence and oil temperature.

Rudder position can be measured using a position sensor that provides feedback to the vessel’s control system. Gill Blade sensors use non-contact induction technology for linear and rotary position measurement, making them suitable for rudder feedback, actuator monitoring and other marine control applications.

USV sensors commonly use established marine and industrial interfaces including NMEA 0183, RS232, RS422, RS485, SDI-12 and Modbus. Gill provides these interfaces across its environmental and industrial sensing range, depending on the selected product and configuration.

Yes. Gill sensors with appropriate interfaces can provide data to compatible navigation, autopilot, control and data-logging systems. NMEA 0183 is available on relevant Gill products for marine integration, alongside RS232, RS422, RS485, SDI-12 and Modbus on applicable configurations.

Gill sensors can be integrated with compatible autonomous vessel control architectures using their available marine and industrial interfaces. The appropriate product and interface depend on the control system, required measurements and data format. Gill can provide technical information and application support during system specification.

Marine approvals depend on the individual Gill product and configuration. WindObserver II carries Lloyd’s Register Type Approval and ABS Product Design Assessment for applicable marine installations, while WindObserver IS provides intrinsically safe certification to ATEX, IECEx and UKEX for relevant hazardous-area applications.

Gill sensing technologies are used in naval and defence applications and can be specified according to the environmental, integration and certification requirements of the programme. UK design and manufacturing in Lymington can also be relevant where supply-chain provenance forms part of a procurement requirement.

Yes. Gill’s portfolio covers ultrasonic wind measurement, integrated weather stations, liquid level, position and oil-condition sensing. This allows a USV programme to consider multiple measurement requirements across the platform rather than sourcing every sensor technology independently.

Gill can support multiple sensing requirements across a USV platform, including wind, weather, fuel level, position and machinery condition. The appropriate combination depends on the vessel and its mission. Gill can work from the platform requirements to identify suitable sensors, interfaces and configurations.

Calibration requirements depend on the sensor, application, measurement uncertainty required and relevant quality procedures. Where traceable calibration is required, Gill customers can access independent UKAS-accredited calibration through Labcal, which supports a wider range of measurement equipment and can calibrate equipment from different manufacturers.

There is no universal calibration interval for every USV sensor. The appropriate interval depends on the instrument, deployment conditions, required measurement confidence and the vessel operator’s quality procedures. An application-specific calibration programme should be established according to the consequences of measurement error and the requirements of the wider system.

Gill provides sensing technologies designed for applications where equipment may need to operate for extended periods with limited access. Product selection should consider environmental protection, power consumption, mechanical complexity, communications and the expected deployment conditions. Gill can advise on the appropriate configuration for a specific autonomous marine platform.

Selected Gill sensors are available in configurations suited to very low temperatures and applications where icing is a consideration. WindObserver provides operating configurations extending to -55C, while heated options are available on relevant products. The appropriate sensor should be selected according to the actual environmental conditions and application requirements.

There is no single best wind sensor for every autonomous vessel. The right choice depends on the platform’s wind range, environmental exposure, power budget, weight, communications, mounting arrangement and any required approvals. Gill WindSonic, WindUltra and WindObserver provide different combinations of these characteristics, allowing the sensor to be matched to the mission.

Gill combines more than 40 years of ultrasonic measurement experience with a wider portfolio covering weather, wind, level, position and oil-condition sensing. Its technologies include no rotating wind-sensing components, solid-state and non-contact measurement approaches, established marine interfaces and configurations for demanding environments. Gill also provides UK engineering support and access to UKAS-accredited calibration through Labcal.