Companies are beefing up their tech-driven underwater exploration tools, as authorities move to meet government demands for more thorough inspections of the thousands of ships coming into American ports.

Two firms based in Washington state are teaming up to address what they believe will be a growing need for quick, but complete, security checks that minimize risk to human inspectors.

Combining Devices

Kirkland-based Nova Marine Exploration, which makes remote-controlled vehicles used in environmental research and salvage operations, will incorporate hands-free display technology from Bothell-based Microvision (Nasdaq: MVIS) to let inspectors see potential problems and pinpoint their exact location.

Nova Marine president Krist Geriene told NewsFactor that in the current climate of heightened security, inspection personnel will be under increased pressure to ensure that cargo ships are not carrying destructive devices on their undersides, and new technology will allow them to do this more quickly.

"In ship hull inspections alone, there were over 54,000 ports of call last year in the U.S.," Geriene said. "These are ships carrying more than 10,000 tons -- 30 percent are tankers."

"Houston had over 6,000 [port stops] last year, and the numbers go up each year. With the present inspection techniques, there is no way to inspect each ship," Geriene added. "A fast and efficient means of inspection is the only answer."

Need for Multitasking

The latest version of the company's remote-controlled NovaRay, which can be operated by a single pilot, uses fully computerized command and control functions to direct the vehicle and send back images captured by its installed video camera for viewing on a monitor.

Future models will come equipped with Microvision's head-worn Nomad display device, which lets the viewer see information directly in front of the eyes in a high-resolution mode. This eliminates head-turning to view other gauges or monitors.

When the display technology is used with the NovaRay, the pilot sees navigational data -- such as compass heading, depth reading and artificial horizon -- superimpoosed over the same monitor that shows video images.

In effect, this allows the pilot to multitask, resulting in faster inspections, the companies said.

Technology Goes Anywhere

As with other fields of exploration, technology has affected significantly what is possible with undersea exploration, research and salvage capabilities.

Officials said early versions of the NovaRay used radio-frequency controls to operate underwater. Now, the control and data systems have been digitized to the point where scanning sonar and tracking systems can be added without the need for additional receivers and monitors.

One computer system monitors everything, and the pilot can change images on the video screen with a simple voice command.

The vehicles have been designed over the past six years to operate in strong currents -- at a speed exceeding 4 knots -- and in a variety of hostile environments.

"September 11th changed the priority only in the capability of the NovaRay to inspect ships quickly -- along with harbors, marinas, shipping lanes, dams, bridge supports and so on," Geriene said.