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Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
(AUVs)

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An autonomous underwater vehicle is used for long term monitoring of the seafloor. Submersibles and ROVs allow intensive study of an area, but they can remain on station for only hours, days or weeks. A system such as an AUV can remain in an area gathering data to fill the time voids between submersible and ROV visits, providing another level of more detailed information on changes over time. An AUV, such as ABE (pictured at left), can remain working on station on the sea floor for up to a year. The "robot" spends most of its time "sleeping" in a safe location, then, at pre-programmed intervals, it undocks, performs a survey with video cameras and other sensors, then re-docks and goes back to "sleep".

Meet ABE, which stands for Autonomous Benthic Explorer.
(Photo courtesy of Woodshole Oceanographic Institute)