Explorer AUV
Specifications | Responsive AUV Localization and Mapping (REALM) |
REALM Contact Information
The MUN Explorer AUV is designed to be tolerant to a depth of 3000 meters, has a length of 5.3 meters, a diameter of 0.69 meters and a dry weight of 820 kilograms. The fore and aft sections of the AUV are free flooding resulting in a mass of approximately 1400 kilograms when the vehicle is in water.
The AUV has 11 E-One Moli Lithium-Ion Cobalt based rechargeable batteries with a total energy capacity of 17.6 kilowatt-hours. With a full survey payload and an average speed of 1.5 m/s the vehicle can run for 16 hours, surveying over 80Kms.
A second payload computer has been integrated to operate in parallel with the vehicle control computer. Its function is to interact with client specified payload sensors, that is, facilitate the configuration, initialization and data collection of such sensors.
Specifications
| Characteristics | Specifications |
| Length | 5.3 m |
| Diameter | 0.69 m |
| Dry Weight | 830 kg |
| Energy | 17.6 kWh |
| Maximum Depth | 3000 m with 10% safety factor |
| Typical Crusing Speed | 1.5 m/s |
| Speed Range | 0.5 m/s to 2.5 m/s |
| Power Source and Capacity | 11 x 1.6 kWh E-One Moli Energy Li-Ion Cobalt rechargeable battery modules |
| Computer | Rack mount cPCI system for vehicle control and payload control computer |
| Hydroplanes | 4 NACA 0026 stern planes 2 NACA 0026 fore planes |
| Navigation INU Type D-GPS Velocity Sensor Depth Sensor Altitude Sensor |
iXsea PHINS III Sound Ocean System GPS RDI Workhorse 300 kHz DVL Paroscientific depth transducer Kongsberg Simrad Mesotech 1007 Digital Altimeter |
| Positioning Systems | LinkQuest MA5000 USBL system |
| Acoustic Telemetry | LinkQuest UMW 3000 - 4800 bps maximum |
| Radio Telemetry | FreeWave 900MHz Ethernet Radio |
| Emergency Equipment | LinkQuest MA5000 USBL (Independently powered) NovatechST-AR400 Strobe RF 700 A1 Radio Beacon |
| Integrated Sensors and Payloads | R2 Sonics 2024 Multibeam Echosounder System Edgetech 2200M Side Scan Sonar System/Subbottom Profiler Seabird Fastcat 49 CTD Valeport MiniSVS |
Responsive AUV Localization and Mapping (REALM)
REALM is the Responsive AUV Localization and Mapping project, supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Atlantic Innovation Fund, Research & Development Corporation Newfoundland and Labrador, Fugro GeoSurvey’s Inc. and Memorial University of Newfoundland. The project has entailed the development of new technologies in the area of advanced AUV navigation and performance; AUV support technologies; a novel subbottom imaging seabed survey capability; and development of the Memorial Explorer AUV into a platform capable of deepwater seabed survey.
The multiphase, five-year project is focused on fostering commercial partnerships with local and national companies and to develop IP internally by building new collaborations internal to the University and with the public research institutions.
The local commercial collaboration, with PanGeo Subsea Inc., was to deploy a new SBI™ technology on the Explorer AUV. This effort required modification of the SBI sonar technology for housing in the Explorer; modification to the Explorer to accommodate the large SBI sonar’s acoustic array; and improvement to the Explorer’s dynamical behaviours with respect to low velocity, low altitude control and performance. Successful completion of the SBI integration resulted in a potential new AUV survey offering via PanGeo Subsea and builds significantly on Memorial’s design capability with respect to hull design and vehicle control, stability and performance.
Memorial has leveraged its past AUV developmental and operational experiences to undertaking some technology development internally. These initiatives included an emergency AUV localization system to enable remote localization of an asset in an over the horizon (i.e. out of regular acoustic communication range) loss scenario; a mobile surface control system unit to replace the larger, bulky surface control system rack; and algorithm development to improve AUV acoustic communications in horizontal, shore based operational configurations.
This project involves technology investment in the vehicle that results in a capability to use the Explorer AUV for commercial seabed survey with a multibeam echosounder sonar and side scan sonar. With the completion of this work, the Explorer AUV constitutes the only large AUV available in Canada for such work.
In joint development with International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE), the sonar technology is the cornerstone of the development of an advanced navigational suite. The suite centers around improved navigation performance through the development of qualitative navigation, adaptive mission control and simultaneous mapping and localization technologies.
Contact Information
| Dr. Andrew Vardy | Dr. Dan Walker |
| Co-Principal Investigator | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Email: av[at]mun.ca | Email: dwalker[at]mun.ca |
| Phone: +1 709-864-4521 | Phone: +1 709-864-8967 |
| Fax: +1 709-864-6193 | |
| Ron Lewis | Peter King |
| Project Manager | Research Lab Coordinator |
| Email: ron[at]mun.ca | Email: peter.king[at]mun.ca |
| Phone: +1 709-864-4632/4590 | Phone: +1 709-864-8814 |
| Fax: +1 709-864-6193 | Fax: +1 709-864-6193 |