STTR Phase II: Autonomous Undersea Systems Network (AUSNET)

该STTR第二阶段项目将创建一个先进的网络功能，使ad-hoc网络能够在低带宽海底环境中运行。由此产生的能力的具体应用将支持自主海底系统网络（AUSNET），这是无人驾驶机器人车队，可以为客户群提供调查、搜索和监控功能，包括石油工业、环境监测、海底通信基础设施、搜索和救援以及军事应用。该能力将建立在新兴标准动态源路由（DSR）协议的基础上，以创建一个完全自配置、带宽节约的网络，并根据水下机器人协作作业的独特要求进行定制。这项工作的两个技术重点包括AUSNET低级协议开发和高级应用程序编程接口规范和开发。协作式自主水下航行器（AUV）市场正在兴起，规模巨大。目前有17家公司销售海底通信设备，每家公司都是AUSNET技术的候选许可方。第二阶段的研究结果预计将在近期应用于海军。更大的应用是支持海上海底作业，满足石油工业、通信（海底电缆）安装和维护、环境调查和监测、搜索和救援行动以及勘探/科学研究的要求。

This STTR Phase II project will result in the creation of an advanced network capability to enable ad-hoc networks to operate in a low bandwidth undersea environment. The specific application of the resultant capability will be to support Autonomous Undersea Systems Networks (AUSNET), which are fleets of unmanned robotic vehicles that can provide survey, search, and monitoring functions for customer bases including the oil industry, environmental monitoring, undersea communications infrastructure, search and rescue, and military applications. The capability will build upon the emerging standard Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocols to create a network that is entirely self-configuring, bandwidth conserving, and tailored to the unique requirements of cooperative undersea robotic operations. The two technical thrusts of the effort include AUSNET low-level protocol development, and higher level Application Programmer Interface specification and development. The cooperative Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (AUV) market is emerging and substantial. There are currently 17 companies selling undersea communications devices, each of which is a candidate licensee for AUSNET technology. Near term application of Phase II results is anticipated in Naval applications. Even greater application is to be found in support of offshore undersea operations addressing requirements of the oil industry, communications (undersea cable) installation and maintenance, environmental survey and monitoring, search and rescue operations, and exploration/scientific research.