Underwater Technologies Lab
Department
of Marine and Environmental Systems
Ocean
Engineering Program
Florida
Institute of Technology
150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida
32901
Tel: (321) 674-8096
Coordinator: Dr.
Stephen L. Wood
Email: swood@fit.edu
Location: Link
Bldg.
The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Laboratory
in the department of ocean engineering at Florida Institute of Technology
is part of a national effort to develop an "Integrated,
Sustained Ocean Observing System," see U.S.
Global Ocean Observing System. The AUV Lab is primarily
concerned with the development of hardware and software for navigation,
path planning, collision avoidance, fault detection and recovery, and
communication for obtaining oceanographic data over an extended period
at extremely deep depths.
RESEARCH AREAS
The Underwater Technologies Laboratory
is actively researching several topics associated with the deployment
of high technology systems beneath the surface of the ocean. The goal
is to support the development of such systems for deployment by the
oceanographic and industrial community and also to advance the state
of the art of underwater engineering globally. Current research interests
include:
AUTONOMOUS OCEANOGRAPHIC
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM (AODAS)
It is the intention of the ocean engineering
program at Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) to design
and develop an inexpensive autonomous oceanographic data acquisition
system that is capable of operating at depths to 6000 meters. The system
will comprise four key components: 1) an autonomous underwater vehicle
(AUV), 2) an underwater refueling and information exchange station,
3) an oceanographic mooring similar to those used by NOAA for measurement
of surface conditions, and 4) a satellite connection between the mooring
and Florida Tech's base-of-operations.
-
Investigation
AUV - (primary focus) This AUV is configured to take
in the full advantages of neural networks, acoustic mapping,
visual mapping and fuzzy logic to discover and explore unknown
regions such as the inside of a ship wreck or the exploration
of an underwater cave system.
-
Surveyor
AUV - This AUV is configured like a torpedo. Long distance
and speed are its primary design points. This configuration
is to do a general survey of an area using a side-scan sonar
and/or video.
-
Harvester AUV - This AUV
is configured for the harvesting of seaweed, or any type of underwater
growth. This would be primarily targeted for the pharmaceutical
industry.
-
Analyzer AUV - This AUV is
configured to remain on location for long periods of time using
minimal energy to analyze some oceanographic or biological specimen.
-
Crawler AUV - This AUV is
to be configured for heavy work specimen collection. This device
is to retrieve specimens by digging, drilling, or any other heavy
data collection method.
Other Ongoing Projects at Florida Tech:
AUV - Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
-
(Under
Ice AUV) - This AUV is configured to be as small as
possible to investigate very small places. The actual minuteness
will be dependent upon the size of the computer boards and
machine hardware. 1st use will be under ice data collection.
-
(Surf
Zone AUV). 0 to 30 ft depth (Surf Zone). Mine
detection
-
(The Barracuda)
The Barracuda is Florida Tech's Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
that will compete in the 5th Annual International AUV Competition
sponsored by AUVSI.
ROV - Remotely Operated Vehicles
-
(ROV
1) Remotely Operated Vehicle (with manipulators soon
to be added).
-
-
(Crawler
1) The development of a coastal AUV/ROV crawler for
shallow water data collection.
-
(Crawler
2) The development of a coastal ROV for shallow water
in the surf zone.
Other Activities:
FACILITIES
The Underwater Technologies Laboratory
has a 500 square foot electronic workshop in the Frueauff Building
with all of the systems necessary to maintain the Autonomous Underwater
Vehicles. Florida Tech also operates a 60 ft research vessel "Delphinus" which
is available for at-sea operations.
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