Elit-guidance feasibility

IFREMER program on autonomous undersea systems identified two main applications : - survey missions mainly science oriented for which we developped the first deep sea autonomous vehicle Epaulard operational since 1981 (ref.1) ; - local observation missions mainly oriented for industrial applications (ref.2.3). The project ELIT (Engin Libre Inhabité Télécommandé) focuses on this second applications. Prior to the development of a local observation system via an autonomous vehicle, a project feasibility phase has been settled. The main critical technical feasibilities concerned the guidance of such a vehicle mainly : - acoustic communications and image processing, - operator interface and vehicle control-supervision. Feasabilities being established IFREMER selected main industrial suppliers ACB, CGA and THOMSON SINTRA which start the realization in mid 1987.