CASE STUDY 2 Autonomous seismic acquisition device (ASAD) – UAVs for near-surface surveying and characterization Lead entity: Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC Advanced Research Center Context: Seismic data acquisition in remote and harsh terrain is costly due to the time-consuming and resource-intensive effort required to navigate such hazardous environments. Through automation and robotization, Aramco were able to reduce manual labour in the field and limit exposure to field hazards.20 Description: Aramco researchers developed an autonomous robotic system using a swarm of UAVs equipped with seismic sensors to support exploration efforts. Missions were conducted in challenging environments such as deserts to demonstrate technology during various development phases. This showcased the performance enhancement in comparison to ground-cabled systems, delivering precise placement of sensors with efficient UAV swarm deployment. Operations and technology: The system consists of 20 UAVs that were custom made with on-board seismic sensor and digitizing units. It is operated by an autonomous navigation system built on swarm robotic technology to enable swarm communication and adjustment of flight plans in the event of any unit failures and programmed with internal fail-safe measures for faulty UAVs to safely return home and/ or perform emergency landings. Impact and success factors: 1. Public benefit in reducing the environmental footprint of exploration efforts, minimizing disruption to suburban structures and farms while improving efficiency in a vital national industry. 2. Missions took place in remote, low-risk zones. 3. The project validated UAV-based surveying within a framework familiar to regulators. 4. The approach demonstrated scalability and repeatability, offering a transferable model for multi-vehicle coordination relevant to future AAM operations. Aramco EXPEC ARC deploys autonomous UAS swarm for near-surface seismic surveying to assist in data acquisition Sources: Aramco EXPEC ARC; Timoshenko, A., et al.21 Deployment Pathways for Advanced Air Mobility: Lessons from Early Implementation in Saudi Arabia 11

Deployment Pathways Advanced Air Mobility 2025