FUTURE PLANS
Scientists will return to NeMO in 1999! A research expedition is
scheduled for June 18 to July 17 aboard the
University of Washington's
R/V Thomas Thompson
using the Canadian ROV
ROPOS.
Within a few years, an
autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is planned to be
deployed at Axial. Unlike ROVs which are tethered to a ship, AUVs operate
without a ship nearby as they are unattached. They are small battery powered
vehicles that can swim freely and carry out pre-determined missions with a
suite of sensors.
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 goal for NeMO is to have an AUV stationed at Axial to act as a first response tool to an event and collect critical data.
The AUV will be docked most of the time at the base of a mooring attached to a surface buoy. Scientists will be able to communicate to a satellite
on the buoy to send instructions to the AUV via an acoustic modem on the instrument.
See other
1998 cruises
completed at Axial Volcano.
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