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Fast “Flyer”

April 8, 2018

The NSF-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative Pioneer Array includes two types of observing systems: fixed moorings and mobile vehicles, such as this REMUS 600. With its powerful built-in propulsion system, a REMUS vehicle can conduct detailed, pre-programmed missions in a relatively short time over long distances, reaching maximum speeds of up to 4 knots and covering up to 100 miles before its batteries need recharging. Sensors on these autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can measure a wide range of ocean water characteristics, including dissolved oxygen, optical properties, and nitrate, an important nutrient for marine plants and algae. (Photo by John Lund, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)