Tampa Deep Sea Xplorers Compact Low Cost AUV Platform for Next Generation Seafloor and Water Column 3D Imaging Sensors

Tampa Deep Sea Xplorers (TDSX) will conduct research into the feasibility of integrating a compact underwater LiDAR system for small ROVs and AUVs. LiDAR has revolutionized the collection of archeological, geographical, and cartographic data on dry land. Its use below the water’s surface however has been severely limited. The Phase I SIBR is a collaborative effort between TDSX and BeamSea Associates to prove the feasibility of developing a LiDAR system to collect data from a small platform vehicle. The Phase I SBIR will prove the feasibility of reducing the size and weight of a LiDAR system for internal installation in a micro or mini-ROV or AUV. The AUV platform that will be used for this development will be a TDSX Barracuda. The Barracuda platform is suitable to prove that a light weight compact LiDAR system can be developed to be carried internally or as an add-on module for micro and mini-ROVs and AUVs. This proposal has the potential to put a state-of-the-art data collection platform into the hands of individuals, small institutions, and research laboratories that otherwise would not be able to afford an underwater LiDAR mounted on a remote vehicle for subsea data collection.