Autonomous underwater vehicle

An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is a robot that travels underwater without needing someone to control it every moment. These special machines can move through the ocean on their own, following pre-set paths or making decisions based on what they sense around them.

AUVs are part of a bigger group called unmanned underwater vehicles. This group also includes remotely operated underwater vehicles, which are controlled from a ship or boat by a person using special wires or signals. In some military uses, AUVs are called unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).

There are different kinds of AUVs, including special ones called underwater gliders. These gliders move up and down through the water like birds flying, using changes in water density to travel long distances. Even some old-style weapons like homing torpedoes can be thought of as early types of AUVs because they could find their targets without being guided from far away.

History

The first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) was made at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington in 1957 by Stan Murphy, Bob Francois, and later Terry Ewart. It was called the "Self-Propelled Underwater Research Vehicle," or SPURV, and was used to study how things spread in water, sound travel underwater, and waves made by submarines.

Other early AUVs were created at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the 1970s. One of these is shown in the Hart Nautical Gallery at MIT. Around the same time, AUVs were also built in the Soviet Union, though this wasn't widely known until much later.

Applications

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have become a popular choice for exploring and studying the ocean because they are cheaper than vehicles that need people inside. Scientists have been working hard to create AUVs that can collect data over long periods for studying the ocean and coastlines.

In business, companies use AUVs to map the seafloor before building things like pipelines under the water. This helps them build in the best spots with less harm to nature. AUVs can also check these pipelines after they are built.

Scientists use AUVs to study lakes, the ocean, and the seafloor. They can attach different tools to AUVs to measure things like water temperature, salt levels, and tiny plants and animals. One special AUV was made to find and remove a type of starfish that hurts coral reefs.

Some people build AUVs just for fun, and there are even competitions where these homemade AUVs try to complete tasks. These hobby AUVs often don’t go very deep or last very long, but they can still be fun to make and race.

AUVs have also helped find pieces of airplanes that were lost, such as parts from Air France Flight 447 and Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

In the military, AUVs can be used for many jobs, like watching enemy ships, clearing mines, or delivering supplies. The U.S. Navy has different types of AUVs for different tasks, and they have even ordered new combat-ready AUVs called Orca. During recent conflicts, these vehicles have been used in attacks on enemy ships, making the ocean a busy place for new technology.

Vehicle designs

Hundreds of different autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been designed over the past 50 years. About 10 companies sell AUVs internationally, such as Kongsberg Maritime, Bluefin Robotics, and Atlas Elektronik.

These vehicles come in many sizes, from small ones a person can carry to very large ones over 10 meters long. Bigger vehicles can stay underwater longer and carry more equipment, while smaller ones are easier to move and launch. Most AUVs are shaped like torpedoes, which helps them move smoothly through the water. Some newer designs look more like shapes found in nature for better performance.

Sensors

AUVs carry tools to help them move on their own and map the ocean. These include compasses, depth sensors, sidescan and other sonars, and tools to measure things like temperature and saltiness. Some can even track tiny bits of plant life in the water.

Navigation

Since radio signals don’t work well underwater, AUVs use other ways to find their way. They can use sound signals from underwater markers or a ship above to know where they are. They also have special tools inside that help them keep track of their movement and position.

Propulsion

AUVs move using different methods. Many have electric motors with propellers to push them through the water. Others change how heavy or light they are to glide up and down, which moves them forward.

Communications

Because radio waves don’t travel far underwater, many AUVs use sound to talk to people far away. There are also new ways being tested to help them send and receive messages.

Power

Most AUVs run on special rechargeable batteries. Some use one-time batteries that last longer but cost more. Scientists are also trying out new ways to give AUVs power, like combining batteries with super-fast energy storers called supercapacitors.