Development of a long range autonomous underwater vehicle /spl Gt/OPEN"/AUV-EX1"

Japan Marine Science and Technology Center has been developing a long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) since 1998. This vehicle was named "AUV-EX1" and it is designed to have a capability of cruising up to 300 kilometers along a pre-programmed route. The body is a streamlined shape with a total length of 10 meters and its weight of 7.5 tons. For long range cruising, key technologies are energy source and navigation. Electric-energy is supplied from lithium ion rechargeable battery and it can be combined with a fuel cell. The navigation system is based on a high accuracy inertial navigation system. The vehicle is designed to gather scientific data by an on-board water sampler, side scan sonar and CTDO. This paper presents the overview of the AUV-EX1 and test plan in the future.

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