# Collaborative Research: CPS: Medium: ML-Assisted Marine Plume Identification using Networked Intelligent Underwater Vehicle Swarms

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Rutgers University New Brunswick (NJ) · $625,000

## Abstract

This project aims to design a Cyber-Physical System (CPS) comprising networked Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to perform Machine Learning (ML)-assisted identification of marine plumes via modeling, multi-AUV coordination and swarming, and dynamic collaboration between AUVs and a Land-based computational cluster. Although ground and air settings have seen the increased use of Internet-of-Things (IoTs) systems, robot swarms, and distributed sensor networks, CPSs remain extremely rare in the underwater domain. To address this and promote the progress of science, this project aims to use an adaptive and intelligent network of heterogeneous AUVs for plume search, classification, and mapping in scientific understanding and forecasting. The ability to sense in real time the ocean is highly beneficial for oceanography and environmental monitoring as well as for national defense/port surveillance and industry, such as aquaculture and oil & gas. This project will help answer the fundamental question of whether there is a correlation between plumes and the presence of gas/oil hydrocarbons. This project will perform sampling/mapping of ocean bottom plumes such as oil spills and chemical release from minerals, which is useful for exploration and extraction of ocean resources or for the monitoring of seabed mineral exploitation activities. This project will provide a better understanding of temporally and spatially limited ocean features, and could well be adapted for sensing other 

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2437375
- **Awardee organization:** Rutgers University New Brunswick (NJ)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M1LVPE5GLSD9
- **PI:** Dario Pompili
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** MEDIUM PROJECT
- **Estimated total:** $625,000
- **Funds obligated:** $625,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 06/15/2025 → 05/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2437375

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2437375, Collaborative Research: CPS: Medium: ML-Assisted Marine Plume Identification using Networked Intelligent Underwater Vehicle Swarms. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2437375. Licensed CC0.

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