AUVs can sample the water column quickly in vertical and horizontal directions
AUV water column sampling allows more samples to be taken in a given time than with conventional technology.
SPI owns the patent for using an AUV to profile the water column using a state machine.

Temperature profile acquired during a shallow dive in a freshwater lake. Note the small change in water temperature present. The hysteresis in the profile is a result of entrainment of cooler water during ascent in the boundary layer of the vehicle. Note that this hysteresis effect is actually quite small (c. 0.1 °C), smaller than that often encountered with traditional CTD instruments lowered on a cable.

AUVs are well suited to gathering 2 & 3-D datasets

Surface water temperature data acquired by Fetch over a large area in a tidal creek (depth < 1.5 m) of the Chesapeake Bay during a very hot summer day. Swimming speed of vehicle was c. 2.0 m/s. Temperature field was measured with 5 runs originating at origin and took approximately 6 minutes to acquire. Spherical kriging was used to interpolate values. Note cooler water near margins of figure, where shading by trees on shoreline occurs.

Movies

SPI Vice President Mark Patterson on WGBH's NOVA News Minute talking about AUVs, Submarine Defense, and Homeland Security (4.5 M)

or click here for WGBH streaming video from the"Hitler's Lost Sub" web site

FetchCam coral reef transect (watch for the sea turtle!) (5.3 M)

Important Notice: The files below are QuickTime movies (.mov) and you will need the QuickTime plugin, as well as other system files. If necessary, visit the Apple QuickTime site for help or information. These movies look best in thousands or millions of colors.