A solar autonomous underwater vehicle system

There is a world wide concern by research organizations over the inability to collect sufficient data with which to better understand the dynamics of chemical, biological, and physical characteristics and processes within the Earth´s seas, lakes, and oceans. Although more detailed monitoring of the ocean is necessary, current instrumentation does not provide sufficient capability to collect the required data from the ocean on a continuous basis. Low cost, unmanned, long range mobile sampling systems are, in many cases, a desirable alternative to specially equipped research vessels which require large investments in manpower and equipment. The authors describe an ongoing program to develop a knowledge base and put in place a number of modeling and simulation tools to allow investigation into the technological issues associated with the development and utilization of solar powered autonomous underwater vehicles. A prototype system is being developed and utilized to evaluate the results of various investigations in a series of at-sea experiments beginning in the latter part of 1998