iRobot Seaglider

About: iRobot Seaglider is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 176 publications have been published within this topic receiving 3279 citations.

Unmanned underwater vehicle

Abstract: The invention relates to a unmanned underwater vehicle 1 with two or more hulls 2, 3, comprising a means for crane deployment and recovery. To provide a small, but efficient unmanned underwater vehicle, which can be launched or recovered safely and easily the invention provides a framework 4 comprising at least one cross bar 12, 13, 14, 15 connected to the hulls 2, 3 at its endings 22, 23 and comprising two pivotable levers 16, 17 connected to each other by a main joint 18, 19, 20, 21.

Determining Seaglider Velocities Automatically

Abstract: Direct measurement of vehicle speed along its glide path is typically unavailable1. However, pressure is continually measured providing an indication of a vehicle's vertical velocity (w). Given a model of steady flight for a vehicle in relatively still water, multi-variable regressions against the measured w can determine a set of vehicle-specific flight parameters (e.g., coefficients of lift and drag, etc.) that minimize discrepancies between predicted and measured w for various dives. These parameters are then assumed to characterize steady vehicle flight and permit estimates of horizontal and vertical velocities; any residuals presumably indicate oceanographic processes operating on the vehicle, such as internal waves, turbulence, and depth-averaged currents.

Automatic Detection of Beaked Whales from Acoustic Seagliders & Passive Autonomous Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Mammals with Seagliders

Abstract: : The U.S. Navy's use of tactical mid-frequency active sonar has been linked to marine mammal strandings and fatalities (NMFS 2001). These events have generated legal challenges to the Navy's peacetime use of mid-frequency sonar, and have limited the Navy's at-sea anti-submarine warfare training time. Beaked whales may be particularly sensitive to mid-frequency sonar. A mobile, persistent surveillance system that could detect, classify and localize beaked whales will help resolve the conflict between the Navy's need for realistic training of mid-frequency sonar operators and the Navy s desire to protect marine mammal populations worldwide. Underwater gliders equipped with appropriate acoustic sensors, processing, and detection systems passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) gliders may offer a partial solution to the problem. The acoustically-equipped Seaglider from the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington (APL-UW) is one such platform. A Seaglider can travel about 20 km/day through the water for a period of weeks to months, dive from the surface to 1000 m and back in a few hours, and use two-way satellite (Iridium) telemetry for data and command transfer. This makes it potentially highly useful for the long-term goal of this project, mitigating impacts of Navy operations on marine mammals.

Vehicle for Automation Research and Underwater Navigation

Abstract: Vehicle for Automation Research and Underwater Navigation, VARUN is an autonomous underwater vehicle designed and developed by undergraduate students of Delhi Technological University, New Delhi. It is designed with a focus on shallow water applications in defense such as mine countermeasures, surveillance and reconnaissance and civilian applications at ports, in ship maintenance and in marine research. The development of the vehicle involves a multi-disciplinary approach with engineers from electronics, mechanical, information technology and production engineering.