The Role of Risk in AUV Development and Deployment

The marine environment is immensely challenging to all technologies, thus risk is ever present in ocean engineering. In the case of autonomous underwater vehicles, however, risk takes on new dimensions. Engineers must evaluate and overcome technical risks to ensure reliable functioning of an AUV. Operators must develop and rigorously apply standard operating procedures to ensure both the safety of the AUV and the people and vessels around it. AUVs can, and must, be viewed through the eyes of designers and operators and their varied perspectives on risk. A third party, with an altogether different view of risk is the insurance community. Finally, the role of lawyers and regulators must be considered. Despite these disparate viewpoints risk can be clearly seen to influence both the development and deployment of AUVs. This paper examines the role of risk in AUV development and deployment and presents case studies. The Autosub Under Ice research program administered by the U.K. National Oceanography Centre, AUV pilot programs in the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the acquisition of an AUV by an academic team are all explored. In each case study the role of technology and operational risks is described. Liability and regulatory issues are also discussed. In each case risk can be clearly identified as a driver behind technical or operational decisions, or both. This paper concludes with some recommendations for both AUV developers and operators. These recommendations are designed to reduce risk and open a dialog across the AUV community in the hopes of generating interest in a commonly developed code of best practices. The need for and path towards such a code is also be described.