Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are programmable, robotic vehicles that, depending on their design, can drift, drive, or glide through the ocean without real-time control by human operators. Some AUVs communicate with operators periodically or continuously through satellite signals or underwater acoustic beacons to permit some level of control.
AUVs allow scientists to conduct other experiments from a surface ship while the vehicle is off collecting data elsewhere on the surface or in the deep ocean. Some AUVs can also make decisions on their own, changing their mission profile based on environmental data they receive through sensors while under way.
Designed for coastal monitoring as well as survey operations at various depths in the ocean.
Can fly slowly or hover over the seafloor to depths of 6,000 feet, making it particularly suited to collect highly detailed seafloor sonar and optical images.
A fully autonomous underwater vehicle capable of exploring the ocean down to 6,000 meters (19, 685 feet) depth.
Diving to depths of 4,000 feet and rising again to the surface to report data and position via satellite to scientists on shore.