Research on Multi-AUV system for Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Exploration

摘要

This paper proposes a new method using multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (multi-AUV) in deep-sea hydrothermal exploration that will provide a rapid improvement of the quality of collected data. Firstly the development of underwater vehicles and search strategies for hydrothermal exploration are introduced. Then the proposed method is presented in detail and its advantages are given. Thirdly we debate major challenges and questions facing the method and conclude the key technologies for multi-AUV system, including formation control, autonomous hydrothermal plume tracing and coordinated collision avoidance. At last we present our views on the emphases for research on multi-AUV system for deep-sea hydrothermal exploration.