Collaborative Research: ITR-(ASE)+(DMC_INT): New Methods for the Exploration of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents with Multiple Autonomous Underwater Robotic Vehicles

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This research project seeks to develop and validate novel information technology to enable the coordinated deployment of multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to enable the goal of large-scale oceanographic exploration of mid-ocean ridges that presently are unexplored. This research project addresses the following information technology obstacles to this scientific objective:1. Developing acoustic data communication technology for small data communication networks providing real-time low-power acoustic telemetry for multiple AUVs. 2. Developing information-fusion navigation techniques combining acoustic communication range data and other sensors for AUV navigation.3. Developing sensor-based optimal planning techniques for vent discovery and exploration.The expected results are new AUV systems and capabilities which will be validated as follows: 1. Employing multiple AUVs to discover hydrothermal vents on the unexplored segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 2 degrees S to 8 degrees S.2. Conducting large-scale physical oceanographic surveys and small-scale bathymetric surveys to determine quantitatively vent size and frequency, and the relative frequency of basalt vs. serpentinite circulation systems.3. Performing fine-scale photographic surveys of newly discovered hydrothermal vent fields to evaluate quantitatively species diversity and persistence in vent habitats and the biogeography of vent fauna.Broader Impact: The large-scale exploration of the deep ocean with multiple robotic AUVs will provide a powerful new tool for benthic science, and enable closely related research in AUVs for moored and permanent sea-floor observatories.