RAV.C | Extreme Vehicles of WHOI

There are hybrid underwater robots, too, that can be controlled directly by a pilot on board a ship or from mission control in the Aquarius, until it’s gotten to the end of its tether or needs to get into a spot where cables might get tangled, at which point the vehicle can be sent a list of instructions via the cable and then cut loose to complete the mission and be picked up later, just like a regular AUV.

WHOI

One of the organizations that utilizes AUVs for a number of missions is the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.  They are a non-profit research and educational facility located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and is the largest independent oceanographic research institute in the U.S.

WHOI was founded in 1930 as part of an existing scientific community that included the Marine Biological Laboratory and the National Marine Fisheries Service, also based in the village of Wood’s Hole.  It was formed with the idea of bringing experts from many disciplines together for oceanographic research.

In 1930, the institute commissioned the construction of a 142-foot steel-hulled sailing vessel called Atlantis, which the institute mainly operated in summer months, exploring Georges Bank near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, taking current measurements, collecting plankton, and taking various measurements in the Gulf Stream.

Today, WHOI runs more modern equipment for their studies.  Some of the AUVs that they operate are:

Mesobot

The Mesobot is currently being designed to study mesopelagic (midwater) processes.

REMUS

Designed for coastal monitoring as well as survey operations at various depths in the ocean.

SeaBED

Can fly slowly or hover over the seafloor to depths of 6,000 feet, making it particularly suited to collect highly detailed seafloor sonar and optical images.

Sentry

A fully autonomous underwater vehicle capable of exploring the ocean down to 6,000 meters (19, 685 feet) depth.

Slocum Glider

Diving to depths of 4,000 feet and rising again to the surface to report data and position via satellite to scientists on shore.

Spray Glider

Capable of going long distances, Spray moves through the water without external propulsion and carries a suite of sensors.

ABE (lost at sea)

One of the first successful vehicles that was both unmanned and untethered to surface ships, ABE was lost at sea March 5, 2010.

WHOI has been involved in missions that found the wreck of the Titanic, as well as discovering hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean, and researching oil spills.  Their ultimate goal is to help advance research and understanding of the ocean and its role in shaping and sustaining the planet.