Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are beginning to replace remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in a number of applications, especially those involving geophysical measurements. Most of these applications involve the use of one AUV to conduct one mission, with data collected during the mission stored aboard the AUV and eventually returned to the user at the conclusion of the operation. In most instances, these vehicles are large, expensive and require a substantial infrastructure to maintain and operate them. Under direction from the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR Codes 32 OA and 321 OE), Benthos Inc. and its partners are developing some of the tools and methodologies necessary to support the integration of small, inexpensive AUVs into larger networks of sensors.
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