Seabed AUV Offers New Platform for High-Resolution Imaging

Abstract

A number of marine biological, geological, and archaeological applications share the need for high-resolution optical and acoustic imaging of the sea floor [Ballard et al., 2002; Greene et al., 2000; Shank et al., 2002]. In particular, there is a compelling need to conduct studies in depths beyond those considered reasonable for divers (~50 m) down to depths at the shelf edge and continental slope (~1000-2000 m). Some of the constraints associated with such work include the requirement to work off of small coastal vessels or fishing boats of opportunity, and the requirement for the vehicle components to be air-shippable to enable inexpensive deployments at far-flung oceanographic sites of interest. Over the last 2 and a half years, the Seabed Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) has been designed and deployed in support of such tasks off of Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Stellwagen Bank off Massachusetts, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 03, 2004
Accession Number
ADA637516

Entities

People

  • Ali Can
  • Chris Roman
  • Hanumant Singh
  • Neil Mcphee
  • Oscar Pizarro
  • Ryan M. Eustice
  • Steve Lerner

Organizations

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
  • California
  • Continental Slopes
  • Detectors
  • Dynamic Range
  • Fires
  • Forests
  • Geographic Regions
  • High Resolution
  • Navigation
  • Platforms
  • Seabed
  • Terrain
  • Underwater Vehicles
  • Vegetation
  • Vehicles
  • Virgin Islands

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Oceanography.