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Research Group for Marine Environmental Technology and Deepsea Engineering

Prof. Dr. Ralf Bachmayer

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+49 421 218-65890

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MARUM I , 1440

Ralf Bachmayer

Dr. Bachmayer is since July 1st, 2017 Professor for Marine Environmental Technology and Deepsea Engineering at MARUM – University of Bremen, Germany, sponsored by the Werner Siemens-Foundation. His main research interests lie in the domain of marine robotics with a focus on unmanned marine systems. In particular he is interested in the design, control and networking of heterogeneous marine observation systems for persistent, long-term observations.

Dr. Bachmayer received his engineering degree in electrical engineering from the Technische Universität Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany in 1995. He worked at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the USA as a visiting researcher, completing his Diploma thesis on the topic of adaptive control of an AUV (ABE) for terrain following. In 1995 he joined the Dynamical Systems and Control Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. Here he earned a M.Sc. and PhD degree on the topic of identification, modelling and control of underwater propulsion systems. He joined the Dynamical Control Systems Laboratory at Princeton University as a Research Associate in 2000 where he worked on multi-vehicle systems and underwater gliders. In 2003 he joined the National Research Council Canada - Institute for Ocean Technology in St. John’s , NL, Canada as an Associate Research Officer. He joined Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's in 2008 where he started the Autonomous Ocean Systems Laboratory (www.aosl.ca) in 2009, working on unmanned marine vehicles and systems for harsh enveionments. Since July 2017, he holds a Professorship in Marine Environmental Technology / Deep-Sea Engineering at MARUM.

Publications

(Co-Supervised Students and Postdocs are in BOLD letters)

Journal Articles

  1. Howatt, T., Palter, J.B., Matthews, J. B. R., de Young, B., Bachmayer, R. and Claus, B. (2018) Ekman and Eddy Exchange of Freshwater and Oxygen across the Labrador Shelf Break. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 48, 1015–1031, https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-17-0148.1
  2. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. “A Parametrized Geometric Magnetic Field Calibration Method for Vehicles with Moving Masses with Applications to Underwater Gliders.” Journal of Field Robotics, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 209–223. DOI: 10.1002/rob.21660, Jan. 2017
  3. Claus, B., Bachmayer R. (2016). “Energy optimal depth control for long range underwater vehicles with applications to a hybrid underwater glider.” Autonomous Robots. Springer US; 2016: 1-14; DOI 10.1007/s10514-016-9555-3.
  4. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. (2015). “Terrain‐aided Navigation for an Underwater Glider,” Journal of Field Robotics, DOI: 10.1002/rob.21563, Jan. 2015.
  5. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R, Williams, C D. (2010). Development of an auxiliary propulsion module for an Autonomous Underwater Glider. Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment. 224(4): 255-266.
  6. Bishop, C., Bachmayer, R, de Young B. (2009). Underwater Glider Research at Memorial University. Journal of Oceanic Technology.
  7. Fiorelli, E., Leonard, N. E., Bhatta P, Paley, D. A., Bachmayer, R., Fratantoni, D. M. (2006). Multi-AUV Control and Adaptive Sampling in Monterey Bay. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering; 31(4):935–948.
  8. Bachmayer R, Whitcomb L. L, Grosenbaugh MA. (2000). An accurate four-quadrant nonlinear dynamical model for marine thrusters: theory and experimental validation. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering;25(1):146–59.
  9. Bachmayer, R., Humphris, S., Fornari, D., Van Dover, C. (1998). Oceanographic exploration of hydrothermal vent sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 37 N 32 W using remotely operated vehicles. Journal of the Marine Technology Society.
  10. Yoerger, D., Bradley, A., Walden, B., Singh H., Bachmayer R. (1998). Surveying a subsea lava flow using the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE). International Journal of Systems Science. 1998 Oct; 29(10):1031–44. doi: 10.1080/00207729808929596

Book Chapters

  1. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. (2012). Hybrid glider - motivation, design and evaluation. In Further Advances in Unmanned Marine Vehicles, Roberts and Sutton, Eds. Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2012, pp. 283–307.
  2. Bachmayer, R., Leonard, N. E., Bhatta, P., Fiorelli, E., Graver J. G (2006). Dynamics, control and coordination of underwater gliders. In Advances in Unmanned Marine Vehicles, Chapter 19 pp. 407-432.

Conference Publications

  1. Cui, J., Bachmayer, R., and Huang, W. (2017). “Motion compensation of K-band radar ocean wave measurement,” In Proceedings of IEEE/MTS OCEANS 2017, Aberdeen, UK.
  2. Li, Z., Bachmayer, R., and Vardy, A. (2017). “Vector field path following control for unmanned surface vehicles,” In Proceedings of IEEE/MTS OCEANS 2017, Aberdeen, UK.
  3. Cui, J. , R. Bachmayer, and W. Huang, (2016). “Retrieval of ocean wave characteristics from K-band radar,” In Proceedings of IEEE/MTS OCEANS 2016, Monterey, USA.
  4. Howatt, T. M., Palter, T. M., Matthews, R., de Young, B., Claus, B., and Bachmayer, R. (2016). “Freshwater and Oxygen Transport Across the Labrador Shelf-Break: Insights from Gliders,” presented at the AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA.
  5. Zhou, M., Bachmayer, R., and de Young, B. (2016). “Adaptive Heading Controller on an Underwater Glider for Underwater Iceberg Profiling,” Arctic Technology Conference, 2016.
  6. Zhou, M. and Bachmayer, R. “Mapping for control in an underwater environment using a dynamic inverse-sonar model,” presented at the OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, 2016.
  7. Zhou, M., Bachmayer, R., de Young, B. (2016). “Towards Autonomous Underwater Iceberg Profiling using a Mechanical Scanning Sonar on a Underwater Slocum Glider”. Proceedings of the IEEE-OES AUV2016, 6-9th November 2016.
  8. Zhi, L., Bachmayer, R., Vardy, A. (2016). “Risk Analysis of an Autonomous Surface Craft for Operation in Harsh Ocean Environments.” Proceedings of the IEEE-OES AUV2016, 6-9th November 2016.
  9. Cui, J., Bachmayer R. (2016). “Retrieval of Ocean Wave Characteristics from K-band Radar. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE Oceans2016, Monterey, CA, USA.
  10. Li, S., Bachmayer, R., Cui, J. (2015). “The Development of Sea Ice Thickness Measurement Sensor.” In proceedings of: The Twenty-fifth International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, 21-26 June, Kona, Hawaii, USA.
  11. Wang, Y., De Young, B., Bachmayer, R. (2015). “A Method of Above-water Iceberg 3D Modelling Using Surface Imaging.” In proceedings of: The Twenty-fifth International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, 21-26 June, Kona, Hawaii, USA.
  12. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R.,“Vehicles with Moving Masses with Applications to Underwater Gliders," in Proc. Field and Service Robotics 2015, Toronto, ON, 2015.
  13. Zhou, M., Ralf Bachmayer, R., de Young B. (2014). Initial Performance Analysis on Underside Iceberg Profiling with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE Oceans2014, St. John’s, Canada.
  14. Zhou, M., Bachmayer, R., de Young, B. (2014). Working Towards Seafloor and Underwater Iceberg Mapping with a Slocum Glider. IEEE-OES AUV 2014, Oxford, United States.
  15. Smith, N., Bachmayer, R. (2014). Development of Semi-Submersible Unmanned Surface Craft. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE Oceans2014, St. John’s, Canada.
  16. Heys, W., Bachmayer, R. (2014). Wave Profiling Using Ultrasonic Sensors. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE Oceans2014, St. John’s, Canada.
  17. MacNeil, L., Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. (2014). Design and testing of a magnetically-geared underwater propulsion system for autonomous underwater and surface craft. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE Oceans2014, St. John’s, Canada.
  18. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. (2014). Towards Navigation of Underwater Gliders in Seasonal Sea Ice. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE Oceans2014, St. John’s, Canada.
  19. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. (2014). Towards Online Terrain Aided Navigation of Underwater Gliders. IEEE-OES AUV 2014, Oxford, United States.
  20. Singleton, J., Bachmayer, R., de Young, B. (2013). Development of an Autonomous Underwater Moored Profiler. IEEE - Newfoundland Electrical and Computer Engineering Conference, St. John's, Canada.
  21. Zhou, M., Bachmayer R. (2013). An Analysis of Iceberg Profiling Strategies using Unmanned Ocean Systems. IEEE - Newfoundland Electrical and Computer Engineering Conference, St. John's, Canada.
  22. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R. (2013). A Modified Sequential Importance Re-sampling Algorithm for Small Embedded Systems. IEEE - Newfoundland Electrical and Computer Engineering Conference, St. John's, Canada.
  23. Li, Z., Bachmayer R. (2013). An Embedded ROS-based Machine Vision System Implemented on the Autonomous Surface Vehicle. IEEE - Newfoundland Electrical and Computer Engineering Conference, St. John's, Canada, 2013-11-07,
  24. Li, Z., Bachmayer R. (2013). The development of a robust autonomous surface craft for deployment in harsh environment. Proceedings. Oceans 2013 MTS/IEEE, San Diego, United States.
  25. Zhou, M., Bachmayer R. (2013). Mathematical and Experimental Evaluation of a Partial Deflectable Foil Mechanism for an Autonomous Iceberg Profiling System. International Symposium on Underwater Technologies 2013, Tokyo, Japan.
  26. Bachmayer R. (2013). Autonomous Marine Systems for Harsh Environments. WMR2013 Workshop on Marine Robotics: Looking into the Crystal Ball: 20 years hence in Marine Robotics, Gran Canary, Spain.
  27. Williamson, R., Li, Z., Bachmayer R. (2012). Comparative study of hull shape modifications to an existing catamaran style Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) with respect to drag reduction and increased payload capacity. NECEC 2012, St. John's, Canada.
  28. Li, Z., Bachmayer, R. (2012). The Development of a Robust Autonomous Surface Craft for Deployment in Harsh Ocean Environments. Proceedings. NECEC 2012, St. John's, Canada.
  29. Hoyles, J., Bachmayer, R. (2012). Control node implementation using single board computer and Robot Operating System framework on an Unmanned Surface Vehicle. NECEC 2012, St. John's, Canada.
  30. Claus, B., MacNeil, L., Bachmayer, R. (2012). A Magnetically Geared Marine Thruster for Long Term Ocean Deployments and Operations. Proceedings. NECEC 2012, St. John's, Canada.
  31. Zhou, M, Bachmayer, R. (2012). Working towards an Integrated Wingtip Actuator for active roll control of a Slocum Autonomous Underwater Glider. Proceedings. NECEC 2012, St. John's, Canada.
  32. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R., Cooney, L. (2012). Analysis and development of a buoyancy-pitch based depth control algorithm for a hybrid underwater glider. Proceedings. IEEE/OES Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) 2012, Southampton, United Kingdom.
  33. Zhou, M., Bachmayer, R. (2011). Working towards single beam acoustic iceberg profiling using active roll control on a Slocum glider. Proceedings. 2011 IEEE Symposium on Underwater Technology (UT), and 2011 Workshop on Scientific Use of Submarine Cables and Related Technologies (SSC), Tokyo, Japan/Kona Hawaii, Tokyo, Japan.
  34. Bagheri, H., Vardy, A., Bachmayer, R. (2011). Strategies for filtering incorrect matches in seabed mosaicking. Proceedings. IEEE-MTS OCEANS 2011, Kona, United States.
  35. Chini, R., Ordonez, M., Bachmayer, R. (2011). Blade Optimization for an Ocean Current Horizontal Axis Turbine Using Response Surface Methodology. Proceedings. IEEE-MTS OCEANS 2011, Santander, Spain.
  36. Shae, D., Williams, C. D., He, M., Crocker, P., Riggs, N., Bachmayer, R. (2010). Design and testing of the Marport SQX-500 twin-pod AUV. Proceedings. IEEE/OES Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV)2010, Monterey, United States.
  37. Claus, B., Bachmayer, R., Williams, C. D. (2010). Experimental flight stability tests for the horizontal flight mode of a hybrid glider. Proceedings. IEEE/OES Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) 2010, Monterey, United States.
  38. Eichhorn, M., Williams, C. D., Bachmayer, R., de Young, B. (2010). A mission planning system for the AUV “SLOCUM Glider” for the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf. Proceedings. IEEE-MTS OCEANS 2010, Sidney, Australia.
  39. Testor, P., Meyers, G., Pattiaratchi, R., Bachmayer, R. et. al.. (2009). Gliders as a component of future observing systems. OceanObs’09, Venice, Italy.
  40. He, M., Williams, C. D., Bachmayer, R. (2009). Simulations of an Iterative Glider Mission Planning Procedure for Flying into Strong Ocean Currents. Proceedings. 16th Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible Technology, Durham, United States.
  41. Shae, D., Bachmayer, R., Riggs, N., Williams, C. D. (2009). Preliminary Testing of the Prototype SQX-1. Proceedings. 16th Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible Technology, Durham, United States.
  42. Claus, B. (2009). Hybrid Glider Propulsion Module Implementation and Characterization. Proceedings. 16th Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible Technology, Durham, United States.
  43. Claus, B., Riggs, N., Sekeran, H., Bachmayer R. (2009). Development of a low cost instructional platform for submersible design. In Proceedings of IEEE-NECEC, St. John’s, Canada.
  44. Shea, D., Riggs, N., Bachmayer, R., Williams, C. (2009). Prototype development of the SQX-1 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. IEEE OCEANS 2009 - EUROPE. IEEE.
  45. Issac, M. T., Adams, S., Bose, N., Williams, C.D., Bachmayer, R., Crees, T. (2008) Analysis of horizontal zigzag maneuvering trials from the MUN Explorer AUV. In Proceedings of IEEE OCEANS 2008.

Patents

  • Encapsulated Magnetically Geared Brushless Drive. Provisional Patent: 61/936,656. 2014-02-06. (Patent Status: Awarded)
  • A new thrust vectoring and propulsion system for underwater vehicles. United States. 61/111,201. 2011-05-03. (Patent Status: Awarded)