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Illustration of the AUV's role in the
rapid response to eruptions. (click
for full size) |
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Some of the most dynamic changes caused by a seafloor
volcanic eruption occur within days to weeks after the event, often before
a ship can be deployed. The long-term goal for NeMO is to have seafloor
monitoring instruments and possibly an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)
stationed at Axial to act as first response tools to an event to collect
critical data. The AUV would be docked most of the time at the base of
a mooring attached to a surface buoy. Scientists would be able to communicate
through a satellite to the buoy to send instructions to the AUV via an
acoustic modem. Unlike ROVs which are tethered to a ship, AUVs operate
without a ship nearby because they are small battery-powered vehicles
that can swim freely and carry out pre-programmed missions with a suite
of sensors.
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