Development of an Active, Large Volume, Discrete Seawater Sampler for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Engineers and researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have developed a water sampler that rapidly captures a 2-liter sample of seawater. This syringe-like sampler is spring actuated and can acquire a full sample in less than two seconds. This sampler will complement the wide array of sensors currently integrated on MBARI´s autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Although many properties of seawater can be analyzed by AUV onboard sensors, these measurements alone are often insufficient to fully investigate important scientific questions. Returning a discrete sample of seawater from the field, via an AUV, for laboratory analysis will expand the spectrum of research possible with AUV platforms. Using AUV onboard intelligence, designated sites and important phenomena can be targeted for acquiring water samples. This paper addresses the development, testing, and initial deployments of this sampler.