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

合作研究：ITR-(ASE) (DMC_INT)：利用多个自主水下机器人车辆探索深海热液喷口的新方法

• 批准号: 0427220
• 负责人: Louis Whitcomb
• 金额: $ 60.68万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-10-01 至 2008-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0427220&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; ITR; ASE; DMC_INT

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.

这一研究项目旨在开发和验证新的信息技术，以便能够协调部署多个自主水下航行器(AUV)，从而实现对目前尚未勘探的大洋中脊进行大规模海洋勘探的目标。本研究项目解决了实现这一科学目标的以下信息技术障碍：1.为小型数据通信网络开发水声数据通信技术，为多个AUV提供实时低功率水声遥测。2.开发声通信测距数据与其他传感器相结合的信息融合导航技术，用于AUV导航。开发基于传感器的喷口发现和勘探优化规划技术。预期的结果是新的AUV系统和能力将得到验证，如下：1.使用多个AUV在中大西洋海脊从S 2度到S2度8度的未勘探段发现热液喷口。进行大规模海洋物理调查和小规模水深调查，以定量确定喷口的大小和频率，以及玄武岩与蛇纹岩循环系统的相对频率。对新发现的热液喷口进行精细的摄影调查，以定量评估喷口生境中的物种多样性和持久性以及喷口动物的生物地理。广泛影响：使用多个机器人AUV对深海进行大规模勘探将为底栖科学提供一个强大的新工具，并使系泊和永久海底观测站的AUV能够进行密切相关的研究。