Continuous autonomous tracking and imaging of white sharks and basking sharks using a REMUS-100 AUV

Author

Packard, Gwyneth E. ; Kukulya, Amy ; Austin, Tom ; Dennett, Mark ; Littlefield, Robin ; Packard, Gregory ; Purcell, Mike ; Stokey, Roger ; Skomal, Gregory

Author_Institution

Woods Hole Oceanogr. Instn., Woods Hole, MA, USA

fYear

2013

fDate

23-27 Sept. 2013

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

5

Abstract

We present results from field experiments in which a REMUS-100 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) tracked multiple tagged sharks in the open ocean over periods of several hours. The Oceanographic Systems Laboratory (OSL) developed an algorithm that allows the vehicle to use information from an active transponder to provide a three dimensional track of the animal with high spatial and high temporal resolution. Field studies were conducted in the spring and summer of 2012. Two basking sharks and four white sharks were tagged and tracked for 1-3 hours. Here we present the engineering developments required to create the system.

Keywords

autonomous underwater vehicles; object tracking; oceanographic techniques; optical images; target tracking; underwater acoustic communication; zoology; REMUS 100 AUV; acoustic transponder; active transponder; autonomous imaging; autonomous underwater vehicle; basking sharks; continuous autonomous tracking; high spatial resolution; high temporal resolution; multiple tagged sharks; white sharks; Acoustics; Cameras; Marine animals; Target tracking; Transponders; Vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Oceans - San Diego, 2013

Conference_Location

San Diego, CA

Type

conf

Filename

6741213