AUV stands for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, which is an unmanned, robot-like device designed to operate underwater without direct human control. AUVs are typically used for scientific research, military applications, and commercial purposes like offshore oil and gas exploration, mapping the ocean floor, environmental monitoring, and underwater inspections.
Key features of AUVs:
- Autonomous Operation: AUVs can follow pre-programmed missions and make decisions based on sensors and onboard algorithms, allowing them to operate independently for extended periods without real-time human intervention.
- Sensors: AUVs are equipped with various sensors, such as sonar, cameras, depth sensors, and chemical sensors, to collect data on water quality, underwater terrain, and biological conditions.
- Power Supply: They are usually powered by batteries or other energy sources, designed to sustain long-duration missions, sometimes up to several days or weeks.
- Navigation: AUVs use advanced navigation systems, such as GPS (for surface navigation), inertial navigation, and underwater acoustic positioning systems to guide them along their mission.
AUVs are often contrasted with ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), which are typically tethered to a surface vessel and require direct human control.
