The SAUV II (solar powered AUV) test results 2004

The solar powered AUV is a new system that provides very long endurance sampling capability. The SAUV II is the latest version of the solar powered AUV and has been evaluated in a series of tests during 2004. A number of in water tests were undertaken investigating communication and cooperation among multiple heterogeneous AUVs; these tests included experiments related to low-level underwater networking and high-level language protocols, and user interface issues inherent in multiple AUV mission planning, monitoring and control. These tests have shown that communications protocols can be designed and used successfully in the underwater acoustic environment with both gateway buoys and multiple AUVs. While more testing has to be accomplished to assess efficiency, timing, and to refine software, the tests were very positive. The testing verified that a network infrastructure can be put in place in the underwater environment and that the network will allow communication pathways to be broken and then reconfigured autonomously. Three different in water tests were completed. This paper will describe the results of the 2004 testing with the SAUV II system.