1. Underwater Robotics
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are two types of underwater robotic systems that play an increasingly significant role in ocean exploration, scientific research, and various industrial operations. Although both systems are designed to operate underwater, they differ in terms of how they are controlled and the tasks they are capable of performing. Collectively, both AUVs and ROVs are categorized as Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs).
An AUV is an autonomous underwater vehicle that often (but not always) operates independently of direct human control. It is equipped with various sensors, instruments, and navigation systems that allow it to perform a range of tasks, including mapping the ocean floor, collecting environmental data, and conducting scientific surveys at sea. Ideally, AUVs are programmed to perform specific missions and have the ability to make decisions based on real-time data, making them a great candidate for conducting long-term, repetitive missions. However, due to the lack of remote off-grid power solutions, big-data transmissions, and edge-compute capabilities, the current generation of AUVs still have a limited operational reach and require interventions of human operators.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), on the other hand, are underwater robots that are often controlled by a human operator. Like their AUV counterparts, ROVs are also equipped with cameras, lights, and various sensors that allow them to perform tasks (such as inspections, maintenance, and repair on underwater structures and vessels). ROVs can also be equipped with sampling tools and other scientific instruments, making them useful for conducting research missions. ROVs play a very prominent role in deep-sea scientific missions for studying benthic ecosystems, such as during the EV Nautilus cruises. (More on this later in another post.)
The main advantage of ROVs is that they allow for direct human control, which can be especially useful in situations where real-time decision-making is required. This makes ROVs ideal for missions that require a high degree of precision and control, such as the inspection of underwater pipelines, the repair of underwater communication cables, or the removal of debris from shipwrecks. Additionally, ROVs can be equipped with manipulator arms and other tools, making them capable of performing tasks that are (currently) not possible with AUVs.
Despite the differences between AUVs and ROVs, both systems play an important role in a variety of industries. In the oil and gas industry, for example, both types of underwater robots are used for exploration and production, as well as for monitoring and maintenance of underwater pipelines and platforms. In scientific research, both AUVs and ROVs are used for oceanographic surveys, as well as for monitoring ocean ecosystems and the effects of climate change.
As the blue tech industry continues to advance, it is likely that UUVs will play an even greater role in ocean exploration, scientific research, and industrial operations in the years to come, making them a pivotal component of the rapidly growing blue economy.
Please visit www.oceanmotion.tech to learn more.
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References
National Research Council 2011. Critical Infrastructure for Ocean Research and Societal Needs in 2030. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13081.
