iMAR has joined the AutoDrop Development Consortium. The objective of the project is to develop a novel autonomous underwater vehicle that will significantly reduce the cost associated with deployment of sensors and data loggers to the seabed. The vehicle is equipped with sensors or loggers and is dropped into the ocean (e.g. seismic loggers). It descends rapidly under the influence of gravity, while autonomously navigating towards a pre-programmed destination on the seabed. After completion of data acquisition, the vehicle returns to a predefined location on the surface for easy retrieval. This vehicle for transportation of assorted equipment is the AutoDrop.
The program is partially funded by EU's FP7.
iMAR contributes in the part of navigation, path control and stabilization of the AutoDrop by hardware and software.
