USV Replacement for NOAA Weather Buoy

Mission Overview

Date: January 2026 - December 2026

Mission Specs: Continuous hourly observations of wind, air temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, sea surface temperature, and wave conditions aligned to NOAA quality control workflows.

Mission Duration: 327 days

Open Ocean Robotics, as a member of Team @Orchard, is deploying its solar-powered DataXplorer™ uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) paired with XplorerView™ to support NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) at Station 46012 in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. @Orchard serves as the prime contractor, leading end-to-end mission execution and NOAA workflow integration; Open Ocean Robotics provides USV platform operations support as @Orchard’s subcontractor.

This 327-day deployment sustains continuity of critical meteorological and oceanographic observations using a renewable uncrewed platform aligned with NOAA’s established data standards for availability, accuracy, and timeliness.

Station 46012, located approximately 10 nautical miles offshore, is part of NOAA’s Coastal Weather Buoy network. Maintaining data continuity at this site supports forecasting, marine safety, ecosystem monitoring, coastal modeling, and climate research.

Data are transmitted in near real-time, quality controlled by NOAA NDBC, and disseminated through NDBC’s popular website and the National Weather Service’s Global Telecommunications System to forecasters, mariners, emergency managers, researchers, and decision-makers worldwide.

Public access to live data: https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46012

GOALS

Increasing Ocean Observations

Collect meteorological and oceanographic observations at Station 46012 consistent with parameters historically measured by the fixed buoy system.

NOAA Data Workflow Compatibility

Transmit hourly observational datasets in formats suitable for NOAA quality control processing and integration into established dissemination systems.

Sustainable Operational Delivery

Provide extended, renewable-powered observing capability using a solar-electric USV platform, reducing emissions, minimizing vessel servicing requirements, and limiting environmental disturbance within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Highlights

Sustained buoy function continuity at Station 46012 within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Controlled station-keeping under variable wind forcing, surface currents, and sea state conditions.

Hourly transmission of meteorological and oceanographic datasets via redundant communications pathways.

Data delivery structured for NOAA quality control and operational dissemination.

Solar-powered, fully electric operation with zero greenhouse gas emissions during deployment.

Reduced reliance on vessel-based servicing compared to traditional fixed infrastructure maintenance cycles.

Mobile USV platform sustaining high-value in-situ observations with a lower operational footprint.

Impact

Station 46012 provides critical oceanographic and meteorological data supporting coastal forecasting, marine navigation, emergency response planning, and scientific research within Monterey Bay and the broader Central California region.

By sustaining this observing location using a renewable-powered uncrewed surface vehicle, the project strengthens the resilience of the national observing network. Maintaining data continuity through a mobile, solar-electric platform reduces dependency on fixed mooring infrastructure and limits seabed disturbance.

Within a designated marine sanctuary, minimizing environmental footprint while preserving data integrity is particularly significant.

This deployment illustrates how modern uncrewed maritime systems can sustain essential environmental intelligence while advancing long-term sustainability and operational resilience objectives.

PARTNERS