The autonomous underwater glider "Spray"

Author

Sherman, Jeff ; Davis, Russ E. ; Owens, W.B. ; Valdes, J.

Author_Institution

Scripps Instn. of Oceanogr., La Jolla, CA, USA

Volume

26

Issue

4

fYear

2001

fDate

10/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

437

Lastpage

446

Abstract

A small (50-kg, 2-m long) underwater vehicle with operating speeds of 20-30 cm/s and ranges up to 6000 km has been developed and field tested. The vehicle is essentially an autonomous profiling float that uses a buoyancy engine to cycle vertically and wings to glide horizontally while moving up and down. Operational control and data relay is provided by GPS navigation and two-way communication through ORBCOMM low-Earth-orbit satellites. Missions are envisioned with profile measurements repeated at a station or spaced along a transect. The initial instrument complement of temperature, conductivity, and pressure sensors was used to observe internal waves and tides in the Monterey underwater canyon

Keywords

Global Positioning System; ocean waves; oceanographic equipment; remotely operated vehicles; tides; underwater vehicles; 0 to 6000 km; 2 m; 20 to 30 cm/s; 50 kg; GPS navigation; Monterey underwater canyon; ORBCOMM low-Earth-orbit satellites; Spray; autonomous profiling float; autonomous underwater glider; buoyancy engine; conductivity sensors; internal waves; operating speeds; operational control; pressure sensors; profile measurements; temperature sensors; tides; two-way communication; underwater vehicle; Communication system control; Engines; Global Positioning System; Mobile robots; Relays; Remotely operated vehicles; Spraying; Temperature sensors; Testing; Underwater vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Oceanic Engineering, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0364-9059

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/48.972076

Filename

972076