NOAA's AUV Vision: Status and Opportunities

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) is charged with a diverse set of missions. Many of which can be served by the appropriate application of new technologies, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). To capitalize on the rapidly evolving AUV technology base, NOAA chartered a cross-agency working group to coordinate AUV activities in the agency. This team has compiled results from pilot programs and analyzed operational results to understand the value of AUVs in NOAA missions. A report entitled Applying AUVs to NOAA Goals: Current Status and Future Opportunities was submitted to NOAA senior leadership on June 1, 2006. This paper provides an overview of the NOAA AUV opportunities report. It discusses the role of AUVs in major NOAA strategic goal areas such as ecosystem research and management, commerce and transportation and climate. Significant pilot programs discussed include coast survey, fisheries science and ecosystem research applications. Technical and operational challenges are discussed and recommended steps for further integration of AUVs in NOAA are described