AUV – Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

The SRS FUSION is capable of operating in different modes, and one of FUSION’s modes is that of an untethered autonomous vehicle or AUV. With a vectored thruster layout, the FUSION is capable of conducting both traditional survey patterns, but also complex mission designs. Missions are easily programmed with the intuitive user interface that is also used for post mission analysis and reporting.  Utilising the onboard sensors, a variety of high-resolution data can be collected including sonar and video. The mission endurance while operating in AUV mode is approximately 3-4 hours depending on operating conditions.

 

Complex Mission Designs

As a vectored vehicle the FUSION is not restricted to simple grid pattern surveys. Missions can be planned with more complex designs of which the choices are almost infinite. Utilising the FUSION’s 5 degrees of control mission designs can include:

• Point to point navigation while looking to next point
• Point to point navigation while looking at a specified heading or marker
• Change altitude/depth in motion or at specified waypoint
• Orbit (look at) specified waypoint
• Pitch up/down
• Vary velocity
• Release payload

 

Data Collection and Replay

During missions FUSION can be programmed to collect various data including forward looking sonar, side scan sonar and video. An intuitive panel allows operators to select the desired data to be collected. All data is stored on the internal drive in FUSION and once FUSION has completed the mission the same user interface allows for easy download. With the data downloaded it is easy to replay and analyse in the user interface. After analysing the data, including creation of sonar mosaics, the data can easily be outputted in various formats including KMZ and GeoTIFF. Additionally, objects of interest can be marked and either pushed to the FUSION in ROV mode for real time investigation or outputted in the automated report generator.

 

Acoustic Control & Tracking

With the topside navigation pod USBL system it is possible to not only track FUSION during an AUV mission, but also communicate with the vehicle. In typical AUV missions the FUSION is programmed and sent off to execute the mission. Once complete the FUSION is recovered and the data downloaded. An additional method of autonomous control is via the topside navigation pod / USBL system. With the USBL system connected to the HMI it is possible to send acoustic commands to FUSION. The communications range for the FUSION is approximately 1,000m (3,280ft).

It is possible to send various commands to FUSION including:

• Execute or abort mission
• Change mission
• Go to marker
• Orbit (look at) marker
• Drop payload at marker
• Return to home

 

Read More:

SRS Fusion – AUV Mode

SRS Fusion ROV Product Page