Underwater technology 2000 ROVs and AUVs: tools for exploring, exploiting and defending the ocean frontier

摘要

The ocean represents 97% of the worlds biological habitat. It is also the mantel which covers 70% of the world's surface through which we reach for aggregates, places of gold and diamonds, petroleum and gas deposits, food and metaliforous deposits as well as defend our sovereign interests and as a dump for waste. ROVs are being and AUVs will be used as platforms to explore and exploit the world's oceans. The paper considers current ROV and AUV applications, proposes new missions, reviews design issues and considers design directions of new vehicles and explores the potential of heterogeneous systems which use vehicles in conjunction with bottom mounted sensors which are connected to a shore based station.