| Underwater robots are autonomous underwater | | | | used in many fields, including research for the military |
| vehicles (AUVs). They are usually known as | | | | and the oil and gas industry. AUVs are also an |
| unmanned underwater vehicles in the military and work | | | | effective tool for open water monitoring and mapping |
| on specified devices like propellers for propulsion and | | | | to many oceanographic institutions around the world. |
| rudders for controlling the direction of travel under the | | | | Prior to commencing any construction of subsea |
| water's surface. These devices are powered by | | | | infrastructures, the oil and gas industry uses AUVs for |
| batteries or fuel cells and can operate in deep water. | | | | mapping the seafloor. This allows oil companies to |
| Most underwater robots use hydraulic batteries | | | | install pipelines in the most effective manner and |
| because they are more reliable in the deep sea. | | | | minimizes the probability of disruption of the |
| AUVs comprise complicated programming languages, | | | | environment. In the military, AUVs are used to detect if |
| controllers, and advanced sensors. They possess | | | | there are any mines in an area. AUVs are also useful |
| powerful control units, a user-friendly programming | | | | for scientists to study oceanography and the ocean |
| terminal, and process-oriented software applications. | | | | floor. Researchers claim that underwater robots make |
| AUVs carry sensors to navigate autonomously and | | | | research easier, cheaper, and faster, and help in the |
| for mapping features of the ocean. AUV sensors | | | | study of the underwater environment. |
| include compasses, depth sensors, sidescan, sonars, | | | | AUVs are available in several designs that are capable |
| magnetometers, thermistors, and conductivity probes. | | | | of conducting operations on the ocean floor. AUVs are |
| These robots also carry cameras to provide pictures | | | | helpful in the development of subsea processing in |
| of sea floor. | | | | deep and ultra deep offshore oilfields and in |
| The Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed | | | | maintenance of those oilfields. They allow monitoring, |
| the first AUV in the 1970s. AUVs come in various | | | | inspection, harvesting, and repairing of the complex |
| shapes and styles for different purposes. AUVs are | | | | environment of the sea. |