Case Study
Deep sea Vision
Starlink Maritime – Fully Managed Connectivity
Deep Sea Vision - Search for amelia Earheart
Deep Sea Vision, a pioneering marine robotics company based in South Carolina, embarked on a groundbreaking deep-water search mission to uncover one of aviation history’s greatest mysteries – the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. In partnership with The Clarus Networks Group, Deep Sea Vision leveraged the advanced Starlink Maritime satellite technology to enhance connectivity for their search vessel, facilitating real-time data transmission and enabling remote operations in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
Attribution: Deep Sea Vision
About Starlink Maritime
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up to 220Mbps download speeds at sea
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as low as 20-99 ms latency at sea
800
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satellites in orbit as of april 2024
The Challenge
Amelia Earhart’s disappearance over the central Pacific Ocean in 1937 left behind a baffling mystery that has intrigued the world for over 90 years.
Deep Sea Vision’s mission to locate Earhart’s Lockheed Electra aircraft required navigating through some of the most remote and challenging oceanic terrain. The mission demanded a robust communication infrastructure capable of supporting extensive data transmission and facilitating remote operations in a region where fast connectivity was previously unattainable.
“Our search mission took us to one of the most remote Oceans in the world, but working with Clarus we were able to maintain superfast connectivity. This was critical to our mission, allowing us to handle the massive amounts of data sent by our marine robotics and to Facetime with my 6 year old daughter back home who also had plenty of exciting things to show me. We only made the sonar discovery at the tail end of our expedition, so having fast connectivity had a huge impact on keeping crew morale high and allowing us to communicate with support teams back on shore. We are partnering with Clarus for our future search missions, including our return to investigate the site further, hopefully bringing closure to the legacy of an aviation pioneer.”
Tony Romeo, CEO of Deep Sea Vision
The Solution
Clarus, in collaboration with Deep Sea Vision, deployed Starlink Maritime, a low Earth orbit satellite internet service, to deliver high-speed connectivity to Deep Sea Vision’s search vessel in the Pacific Ocean. This innovative solution empowered the team to manage sophisticated search equipment, including the autonomous underwater drone ‘Miss Millie,’ and handle massive amounts of sonar data collected during the mission. Additionally, the reliable connectivity facilitated video calls back to shore, improving crew welfare and morale during the prolonged expedition.
Key Components of the Solution:
- High-Speed Satellite Internet: Starlink Maritime provided Deep Sea Vision’s search vessel with download speeds of up to 220 Mbps, enabling real-time data transmission and analysis of sonar imagery collected by the autonomous underwater drone.
- Remote Operations Support: With Clarus Networks Group’s satellite technology, Deep Sea Vision’s 16-person crew could transmit and manage data from ‘Miss Millie’ autonomously, optimizing search efficiency and expedition outcomes.
- Enhanced Crew Welfare: The availability of fast and reliable internet connectivity allowed crew members to stay connected with loved ones ashore via video calls, mitigating the challenges of prolonged isolation during the 90-day mission.
The Results
The collaboration between Deep Sea Vision and Clarus facilitated significant advancements in deep ocean exploration and maritime connectivity. Key outcomes include:
- Groundbreaking Discovery: Deep Sea Vision’s extensive search mission, supported by Clarus Networks Group’s satellite technology, culminated in the discovery of what is believed to be Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra aircraft on the ocean floor, marking a significant breakthrough in aviation history.
- Reliable Connectivity: Starlink Maritime’s high-speed internet service provided consistent and dependable connectivity to Deep Sea Vision’s search vessel, enabling seamless data transmission and remote operations in one of the most remote regions of the Pacific Ocean.
- Enhanced Expedition Efficiency: The availability of fast internet connectivity empowered Deep Sea Vision’s crew to manage extensive sonar data and coordinate search operations effectively, optimizing expedition efficiency and outcomes.
Conclusion:
The partnership between Deep Sea Vision and Clarus exemplifies a shared commitment to leveraging advanced technology to address complex challenges in deep ocean exploration. By harnessing the power of satellite connectivity, the collaboration has not only advanced the search for Amelia Earhart’s aircraft but also paved the way for future breakthroughs in maritime exploration and discovery. As Deep Sea Vision continues its quest to unlock the mysteries of the deep ocean, Clarus remains dedicated to providing reliable and innovative connectivity solutions to support their pioneering missions.
