Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

A wireless robotic sea-vehicle that can map the seafloor.

Researchers at Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) - the apex R&D institute for mechanical engineering under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – have developed India’s first indigenous autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The robotic vehicle is expected to complete the final sea trial by August 2010. The mega system can fulfill tasks such as seafloor mapping, coastal surveillance, mine countermeasure, and oceanographic measurements during adverse weather conditions.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MES), the AUV has been built to operate 150 feet under the sea (see Specifications) to map the seafloor and collect sensor-based data. With no physical cable connection to the surface control station and possessing on-board intelligence and energy supply, the vehicle, designated as AUV-150, has much to boast about.

Autonomous underwater technology and underwater robotics are being vigorously pursued in many technologically advanced countries such as the U.S., Australia, Germany, Russia, Korea, and Japan. According to Gautam Biswas, director, CMERI, “The AUV technology will be an essential technology of the future as our dependence on ocean resources increases. The need for autonomous underwater vehicles is already being felt for activities such as inspection, location of objects, survey on the ocean floor, and surveillance.”

“AUV-150 will be tested in sea for seafloor mapping and monitoring of environmental parameters such as current, temperature, depth, and salinity. Once the technology is proven through extensive trial, the same vehicle with required customization may be used for other future applications such as coastal monitoring, military reconnaissance, mine counter measuring, cable and pipeline surveys, littoral zone sensing, and more,” says Biswas.

FEATURES

AUV-150 is a cylindrical-shaped carrier with streamlined fairing to reduce hydrodynamic drag. It is embedded with advanced power, propulsion, navigation, and control systems. The propulsion system comprises thrusters for generating motion in different directions to control surge, sway, heave, pitch, and yaw, while preventing the vehicle from rolling. Two arrays of cross-fins have also been fixed at the two ends to provide additional stability to the AUV. A lithium polymer battery powers the vehicle and a pressure hull contains its electronics and energy system.

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The vehicle is programmed to carry out an underwater mission without assistance from an operator on the surface. For autonomous free movement under water, with no wires attached to the station on the surface, the vehicle determines its own geographical position with the help of navigational sensors. Its forward looking sonar system and navigational algorithm help the vehicle in avoiding collision with obstacles.