METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF SEISMIC AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES

Systems and methods for deploying seismic autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to the seabed by using a variety of guidance systems and/or positioning/communication protocols based on a particular AUV's location. A combination of a USBL system and a phased array system may be used to deploy different groups of AUVs on one or more deployment lines of a seismic survey area. The deployment lines may be generally perpendicular or parallel to a deployment vessel's direction of travel. Once a certain number of AUVs have landed on the seabed, the landed AUVs may be used to guide flying AUVs to their intended seabed destination by using acoustic pingers and phased array techniques. Time intervals for acoustic signals emitted from landed AUVs may be generated using a predetermined Time of Emission pattern and received by a phased array receiver on flying AUVs.