Deploying two or more underwater vehicles from a single vessel makes better use of
ship time and personnel, but requires specific technical capabilities
and careful scheduling. In the past, one vehicle has been
recovered before the other was deployed, and they used different navigation
systems. During the VISONS’05 cruise on the Juan de Fuca Ridge in
September, scientists and engineers successfully operated
the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) and the Remotely Operated Vehicle
Jason II at the same time. ABE
made detailed maps of a section of the Endeavour segment of the ridge
while surveying a cable route for the Neptune undersea observatory. Jason II
serviced seismic instruments, performed water sampling, drilling,
installed in situ experiments, and filmed the seafloor in high
definition, sent back ashore by satellite in real time and shared over
the Internet with researchers and the public at sites in the U.S, and
Canada. ABE was able to rest and conserve battery power by
anchoring to the seafloor on a short mooring.
T31B-0508 0800h Simultaneous Deep-Ocean Operations with Autonomous and Remotely Operated Vehicles
Originally published: December 1, 2005
