AUV Operations at MBARI

MBARI´s Division of Marine Operations regularly runs two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles: the Mapping AUV and the CTD AUV. Both are Dorado Class, 54 cm (21 inch) diameter. Lengths vary from about 3 m (10 feet) to 5.18 m (17 feet); air weights from about 476 kg (1050 pounds) to 635 kg (1400 pounds). The interiors of the AUVs flood when in the water; electronics are contained in either one-atmosphere hermetic housings or in pressure-compensated enclosures. Both AUVs are equipped with self-contained navigation equipment, as well as an Iridium Satellite Short Burst Data (SBD) modem. The Mapping AUV performs routine operations to 1500 meters depth; all the components are rated to 6000 meters. The Mapper has three Sonar systems onboard: a multibeam echosounder, a sub-bottom profiler, and side- scan sonar. The CTD AUV runs unattended overnight operations several times a month inside and in the vicinity of Monterey Bay, performing a time-series of measurements. It has also done a survey of the Davidson Seamount.