MBARI’s robotic vehicles
Remotely operated vehicle Ventana launched with the mapping autonomous underwater vehicle.
MBARI researchers have designed and made extensive use of these high-tech robotic vehicles as an alternative to sending humans down into the depths:
- Remotely operated vehicles, which are controlled through a tether to the sea surface.
- Autonomous underwater vehicles, which are programmed at the surface and navigate through the water on their own.
- Autonomous surface vehicles, such as the self-propelled Wave Glider.
Remotely operated vehicles
ROVs are robotic submarines that are tethered to a ship, where "pilots" control their movement and actions.
Autonomous underwater vehicles
AUVs are programmed at the surface, then navigate through the water on their own, collecting data as they go.
Autonomous surface vehicles
ASVs are used for repetitive tasks and as communication gateways and navigation aids for submerged AUVs.
At Sea
- Ships
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- Research Vessel Western Flyer
- Research Vessel Rachel Carson
- Research Vessel Paragon
- Rates
- Marine operations policies
- Cruise planning
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- R/V Western Flyer cruise planning
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- Checklist of Supplies
- Cruises outside home port
- Data and video: formats and specifics
- Departure/arrival times
- early departure
- Hazardous materials
- Precruises and postcruises
- ROV dive time definitions
- RHIB operations
- ROV users checklist
- Science party guidelines
- Scuba diving
- Ship to shore communications
- R/V Rachel Carson cruise planning
- R/V Paragon cruise planning
- Forms
- FAQs
- Rates
- Marine operations policies
- Schedules
- Vehicles
- Expeditions
- Cabled observatory
- Moorings
- Research tools
- Administration & planning
