The Optonaut Array Class AUV
-a development project toward a swarm-able long-range benthic flyer-
Built on a minimalistic hardware architecture rigorously adapted for Pressure Tolerant Electronics.
This cost-effective new class will feature months-at-a-time in the field,
long-range mobility and telemetry,
and autonomous profile-independent diving capabilities.
Ocean Exploration and Research tests the limits of mankind's modern toolmaking abilities. A growing variety of instruments now provide us with momentary glimpses into the ever-changing state of our oceanic ecosystem. Today, space-based satellite data is aggregated with data from dedicated research vessels, buoys, drifters, AUVs, ROV’s… and even trackable detritus, to give us coarse-grained and fleeting snapshots from which we can monitor Earth’s oceanic pulse. Our vital interests, everywhere on Earth, depend on that complex and dynamic pulse.
The Discovery and Monitoring
of Ocean Characteristics and Ecosystems is a massive, on-going, international networking project.
It is the perpetual challenge of trying to look closely at a very big thing that is constantly changing.
Despite countless centuries of our dependence on the seas, most of the ocean realm remains terra incognita, as it has throughout all of human history.
Mankind has been driven by innate curiosity, and even compelled by practical needs, yet given the scale of the undertaking the Ocean Sciences are intrinsically under-resourced.
Now at the Dawn of a Robotics Revolution in Ocean Research
Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV's), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's), and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV’s) have already begun demonstrating their value and efficacy for a variety of Ocean Science needs.
The Optonaut Project will bring to life an Array Class Solar AUV
Featuring months-at-a-time in the field, long-range mobility and telemetry,
and autonomous deep-diving capabilities.