Maximizing Effectiveness of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Abstract
Ocean gliders and other unmanned underwater vehicles play an increasingly important role for the U.S. Navy as a source of targeted environmental measurements. Glider pilots adjust navigation instructions for each platform in response to changing array distribution and local ocean conditions. Automated guidance for glider missions enables more effective use of growing numbers of ocean gliders without overtaxing limited human resources. NRL-developed systems to optimize glider placement and sampling direction initiated under the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Glider Observation Strategies (GOST) project have been transitioned to the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). GOST is an autonomous system that develops preferred deployment and navigation plans for glider networks. GOST uses a genetic algorithm (GA)1 that sorts through potential waypoints to identify glider paths that achieve optimal coverage. Under this approach, the relative merit of alternate pathsets are calculated using mission-appropriate cost functions that combine geographic coverage, forecast uncertainty, and environmental variability. Feedback from GOST-directed gliders into ocean models demonstrated improved ocean forecast skill in two NATO exercises, REP10 and Proud Manta 11. NAVOCEANO will conduct operational tests of the GOST system during the Navy s Trident Warrior 13 exercise.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA609491
Entities
People
- C. N. Barron
- E. M. Coelho
- G. Peggion
- K. D. Heaney
- L. F. Smedstad
Organizations
- Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command