Autonomous Vehicle Tracking & Recovery
Autonomous underwater vehicles of all shapes and sizes have become an important component of most scientific, naval and commercial operations at sea. The use of both autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) has increased dramatically over the past several years as technology and significant market demand in both commercial and military arenas have increased.
An AUV is a self-propelled, unmanned, untethered underwater vehicle that can be used for a variety of increasingly complex underwater activities. AUVs are often used in oceanographic research as survey platforms for sea floor mapping, or collecting data on physical, chemical or biological properties of the water. They can also be used for commercial or government applications, such as oil & gas exploration and military reconnaissance. A variety of sensors can be carried on an AUV, including cameras, sonar, oxygen sensors, temperature & depth sensors, etc.
While the reliability and control of robotic vehicles has improved significantly over the past decade, the open ocean remains an incredibly harsh and unpredictable place to work. Given the high value of robotic vehicles carrying sophisticated instrument payloads, it is critical to have redundant location and communication systems on board. Xeos beacons and flashers help protect these valuable assets with reliable, secure visible and communication links.
Designed for operations at various levels of ocean depths sometimes over long distances, reporting data and commands remotely is of utmost importance. Data relays such as the Nemo-V are designed to send data and commands to marine vehicles while at the ocean surface. Submersible up to 7500m, these data relays enable users to send personalized commands to the AUV, as well as receive important data recorded at sea. Data is transmitted via Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD). Along with Iridium SBD capability, the Nemo-V data relay is also equipped with GPS, which allows it to be used as a recovery beacon in case of emergency. While at the surface, the GPS coordinates are acquired and can be passed back to the user in real time.
