Light duty works performed by an underwater vehicle

Nowadays, many kinds of underwater vehicles are applied to study various marine research fields. Generally, they are broadly classified into three categories, manned underwater vehicles (MUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). MUVs and ROVs can perform diverse and complicated works because not only they are controlled by people but they are often equipped with manipulators. Meanwhile, AUVs are applied to survey the seafloor topography because they are capable of cruising autonomously for a long time. In fact, MUVs and ROVs are identified as the “working” vehicle and AUVs are identified as the “cruising” vehicle. So, we promote the development of a “working AUV” which can perform light duty works. In this paper, its outline and some technologies applied to it are described.