Image : Flying Blind in the Ice Factory

illustration: At present, AUVs typically locate their position in shallow water by three methods of navigational reference

NAVIGATING AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES?At present, AUVs typically locate their position in shallow water by three methods of navigational reference, using GPS at the surface (1); an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to ?touch? the ocean bottom (2), and signals from stationary acoustic beacons (3). View Flash animation below to see how scientists envision AUV navigation in the future. (Illustration by Jayne Doucette, WHOI)

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Last updated: November 30, 2012