3D trajectory synthesis and control for a legged swimming robot

Inspection and exploration of complex underwater structures requires the development of agile and easy to program platforms. In this paper, we describe a system that enables the deployment of an autonomous underwater vehicle in 3D environments proximal to the ocean bottom. Unlike many previous approaches, our solution: uses oscillating hydrofoil propulsion; allows for stable control of the robot´s motion and sensor directions; allows human operators to specify detailed trajectories in a natural fashion; and has been successfully demonstrated as a holistic system in the open ocean near both coral reefs and a sunken cargo ship. A key component of our system is the 3D control of a hexapod swimming robot, which can move the vehicle through agile sequences of orientations despite challenging marine conditions. We present two methods to easily generate robot trajectories appropriate for deployments in close proximity to challenging contours of the sea floor. Both offline recording of trajectories using augmented reality and online placement of fiducial tags in the marine environment are shown to have desirable properties, with complementary strengths and weaknesses. Finally, qualitative and quantitative results of the 3D control system are presented.