ROV and AUV enhancements and upgrades
Precision control of ROVs and AUVs
Project Manager and Lead Engineer: Steve Rock
MBARI Adjunct Steve Rock from the Robotics Lab at Stanford and his graduate students have demonstrated much success in 2006 with on-the-fly benthic mosaicking, a highlight of the USS Macon expedition. Further improvements are planned for 2007. MBARI has also requested that Rock’s group help with terrain-based navigation for AUVs as an aid for flying close to the canyon floor. To aid the ROV pilots, Rock’s group will be providing algorithms that allow automated station keeping with respect to a mooring for servicing tethered deep-sea ocean observatories.