The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) market is estimated by IET to be worth $2.3bn over the next decade with 1,400 new AUVs built. Over 630 AUVs have already been made for military, scientific and oil and gas sectors in particular.
"Unmanned vehicles are now used for a variety of missions in the marine environment, either as an alternative to a manned vessel, or as a 'force multiplier' for existing vessels or research campaigns," declares Paul Newman, Offshore Industry consultant and trainer and co-author of a number of major reports for Douglas Westwood on various aspects of subsea and unmanned technology.
AUVs divide into "swimmers" fitted with large batteries powering propellers and "gliders" that travel more gently and self sufficiently, lasting for much longer. Swimmers travel moderate distances but often with heavy payloads. Gliders move more slowly - about 0.5 mph - but can usually stay at sea for years at a time, shifting buoyancy and center of gravity to dive and rise and harvesting energy such as wave and solar. Gliders are often smaller and their tasks are more limited.
The main driving forces for these new vehicles, that first swam about 15 years ago, include the expense and problems of trying to find vessel time, the increasing need for long duration measurements and observations, the growing acceptance and maturity of unmanned technology and the need to remove personnel from risk.
With global warming there is a need for data about the world's oceans. Turbidity, temperature and salinity are monitored and oceanographic, meteorological, climatic and biological observations and fisheries research are carried out.
Military versions address threats from mines (floating or buried), and threats to assets from surface craft. AUVs are good for covert operations because detection is difficult with an EV.
There is interest in unmanned vehicle use for security applications in vessels, ports and harbours where they can be used to deploy mine countermeasures (MCM) or carry out anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
"Every vehicle design is a compromise between cost, endurance, speed, size, depth rating, weight, sensors, autonomy and fitness for purpose,"
Source: Kongsberg, Royal New Zealand Navy assist the search for a sunken ferry in 2009 using Kongsberg AUVs.
Main Image: Kongsberg HUGIN swimmer AUV on Republic of Korea Navy ship.
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