.
Schmidt Ocean Institute and R/V
Falkor
are proud to support advanced and emerging research technologies such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). These robotic, unmanned submarine platforms provide access to areas that may otherwise not be explored and act as force multipliers, allowing one ship to research a greater area than would otherwise be possible.
Falkor
has hosted numerous AUVs from commercially available systems, to units still in development where modifications are being made aboard the ship between dives. The future will likely see autonomous systems which can perform many research functions without the support of a ship at all. Schmidt Ocean Institute is excited to help bring about these exciting new technologies.
What can an AUV do?
An AUV can work in tandem with other robotic systems to complete oceanographic research missions and provides excellent seafloor mapping and seawater characterization. Unlike ROVs, AUVs can travel without operator input once they are programed at the surface. They can collect a large amount of visual data through photomosaicing, as well as seawater data, depending on the sensors added.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using AUVs instead of ROVs?
AUVs are small, easily portable vehicles. They are self-guiding and self-powered. They are less expensive than an ROV and able to maintain a direct trajectory through the water. AUVs are programmed beforehand and are not tethered to the ship. This allows much more data collection during a cruise, as the ship can focus on other tasks while the AUV is in the water. AUVs speed, mobility, and spatial range is stronger compared to ROVs.
Since ROVs are tethered to the ship, they can draw more power and communicate real-time data. AUVs cannot operate everywhere. They can be influenced by strong currents. They also are less suited for areas that heavily populated due to acoustic interference, collision risk, and entanglement.
How long can an AUV be deployed?
AUVs can operate a wide range of times depending on its purpose and payload – Some for a few hours, others over several days. They use different kinds of batteries – some are even solar charged – to power different types of moment or propulsion. Before deployment into the water, they are programmed at the surface and can work independently until the mission is completed.
