Computer Systems for Autonomous Vehicles

The advent of the microprocessor has permitted a substantial amount of computing power to be placed in underwater automata for inspections, work, and other tasks under conditions where tethers are not desirable. Hardware costs are low and power consumption minimal. This paper examines the impact of the microprocessor computer on the autonomous vehicle. The trend toward distributed processing, and the increasing memory size, and the consequent impact on mission capabilities, communication, navigation and control are reviewed. Software design guides the reliability and effectiveness of the hardware, and demands a major portion of development effort. Progress in user oriented languages, software system design, and in flexibility between system elements is described.