Low-Power Arctic environmental sensors for UUVs

UUV"s have become increasingly important tools in the collection of environmental data. Their unique ability to operate independent of surface vessel conditions allows artic measures when traditional means is not possible. It is now well agreed that artic regions are critical to man"s understanding of the environment. Historically sensor packages for UUV"s have been based on"adaptions"of ship deployed equipment. This is particularly true in the case of CTD and oxygen sensors resulting in sensor packages which are"cobbled"together, so they are not well fit for purpose. We proposed to provide a CTD/Oxygen measurement package that has been develop from the onset for use on AUV"s. In combination with this program we will be integrating the new AUV based sonar products for integration with the physical property sensors such that a"comprehensive"systems engineering approach is applied to optimizing all aspects of the combined sensor package for AUV use, with particularly attention to the requirements of deployment in harsh arctic environs. The Physical sensor work will be combined with a commercial sonar system provided by BlueView. The sonar will have advance ice mapping/avoidance and ice thickness imaging software developed by the University of Rhode Island. The team includes three groups with demonstrated ability to deliver innovation solutions to both acoustic and physical property measurements. Combined with a leading academic institution that has already been demonstrated its ability to develop advanced sonar imaging algorithms.