Continuous Autonomous Tracking and Imaging of White Sharks and Basking Sharks Using a REMUS-100 AUV

摘要

We present results from field experiments in which a REMUS-100 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) tracked multiple tagged sharks in the open ocean over periods of several hours. The Oceanographic Systems Laboratory (OSL) developed an algorithm that allows the vehicle to use information from an active transponder to provide a three dimensional track of the animal with high spatial and high temporal resolution. Field studies were conducted in the spring and summer of 2012. Two basking sharks and four white sharks were tagged and tracked for 1-3 hours. Here we present the engineering developments required to create the system.