Autonomous Underwater Vehicles – AUV

The next generation of underwater drones for survey, inspection and mapping

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) are designed for the investigation of underwater environments without a permanent control from a human operator. Working with AUVs requires a preliminary mission planning and loading of the planned survey in the memory of the on-board computer. After launching, the AUV travels on the pre-established track and depth using the positioning systems (inertial and satellite), water current velocity corrections and bottom-tracking (with the help of DVL – Doppler Velocity Log), constantly recording the parameters specific to the equipped sensors. The information is recorded in the internal memory and downloaded after the end of the mission and the recovery of the vehicle. The AUVs transmit periodically mission status messages via IRIDIUM and/or underwater acoustic modems.

AUVs can be launched and recovered from shore, jetties, small vessels, providing versatility in use on a wide range of applications.

What are the advantages of AUVs?

  • Providing higher resolution seafloor mapping data than can be achieved from surface vessels
  • Continuous monitoring of the mission and position of the AUV
  • Maximum efficiency in particularly in deep water
  • Offer a very stable, low-noise platform, maintaining a consistent altitude above the seafloor
  • Quick and continuous recording of multiple parameters types
  • Operation at depth that may be inaccessible by traditional methods
  • Reduces distortion caused by “fish” motion
  • Ability to create a preset path before launching
  • Environmental friendly by using electric engines
  • Can be used in protected or remote areas
  • Can be used in drinking water basins without polluting
Services provided

Bathymetrical Survey

Bathymetry deals with determining the depth of the water in seas, lakes and rivers.

Pre and post dredging surveys

Dredging activities have the purpose of removing unwanted bottom sediments and their disposal at a different location.

Pipes and cable routes survey

Cables and pipes trajectory and extent on the seafloor can be quickly investigated and mapped using side-scan sonar imagery for further investigations.

Underwater sound imaging

Side-scan sonars used to obtain better images of underwater objects and features.

Marine archeology

Traces of past civilizations are often to be found bellow the water surface.

Current profiling

AUVs are equipped with DVLs with ADCP. They gather data about how fast the water is moving bellow them.
Our Equipment

OceanServer Iver3 with L-3 Klein UUV 3500

OceanServer Iver3 with Environmental Sensors

OceanServer Iver2 Imagenex YellowFin and Delta T

OceanServer Iver2 Imagenex YellowFin