Automated Underwater Vehicles

Automated underwater vehicles (AUVs) are robotic submersibles that operate without a human occupant. AUVs can be equipped with a variety of sensors and other payloads to perform different tasks, such as surveying the seafloor, collecting data from the water column, or locating and mapping submerged objects.

AUVs were first developed in the 1950s for use in military applications, but they have since found a number of civilian uses, including scientific research, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue operations. AUVs offer a number of advantages over traditional manned vessels, including increased safety (since there is no need to put humans in harm’s way), extended endurance (they can operate for long periods of time without needing to surface for air), and increased flexibility (they can be deployed in a wider range of environments).

Despite these advantages, AUVs still face some challenges. They are expensive to develop and build, and their sensors and payloads can be damaged or lost if the vehicle collides with something underwater. In addition, AUVs must be carefully programmed before each mission so that they know what to do and where to go; if something goes wrong during the mission, it may be difficult or impossible for operators to intervene.

Nonetheless, AUVs are an important tool for scientists and engineers who want to study or work in difficult-to-reach places underwater. With continued development, they are likely to play an increasingly important role in a wide variety of applications