Compact, lightweight Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) with robust navigation and range for riverine reconnaissance

OceanServer proposes to build on our experiences in the commercial marketplace with the existing Iver2-580 AUV, and to build on the Navy-specific attributes that have been developed or are in development to meet Navy requirements already documented for bathymetric survey, current profiling, obstacle detection and identification, and subsequent in-stride data analysis and presentation. The new research will focus on shrinking the physical size of the existing Iver AUV with its organic sensors, improving power generation and management, and more effectively coupling the vehicle to advanced behavioral software methods of improving navigational accuracy and collecting bathymetric and current profiling data. OceanServer has a 4.5"diameter AUV (Iver2-450) that has been operating as a development platform for 18 months. This vehicle is fully functional, but is limited by the availability of sensors small enough for integration. The research will identify sensor attributes and appropriate vendors to collaborate with in developing these required small sensors. We believe this first step can create a vehicle with an appropriate imaging and sensor package that weighs 35 lbs. with minimal technical risk. Our analysis will then identify technologies and methods to reduce the weight of this vehicle to about 25 lbs. As a final step, the phase 1 research will document and analyze further technologies and methods to create a 3.8"diameter AUV (Iver2-380), with minimal but appropriate sensors that will weigh 16-10 lbs.