  The aim of this work is to offer an overview of the research questions,
solutions, and challenges faced by the project aColor ("Autonomous and
Collaborative Offshore Robotics"). This initiative incorporates three different
research areas, namely, mechatronics, machine learning, and communications. It
is implemented in an autonomous offshore multicomponent robotic system having
an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) as its main subsystem. Our results across the
three areas of work are systematically outlined in this paper by demonstrating
the advantages and capabilities of the proposed system for different Guidance,
Navigation, and Control missions, as well as for the high-speed and long-range
bidirectional connectivity purposes across all autonomous subsystems.
Challenges for the future are also identified by this study, thus offering an
outline for the next steps of the aColor project.
