Bluefin-12 AUV for UVic's Test Bed
Bluefin Robotics is to provide a Bluefin-12 AUV to the University of Victoria's Ocean Technology Lab (OTL). The vehicle will be integrated into the Ocean Technology Test Bed (OTTB) being constructed in Saanich Inlet near Vancouver Island, Canada. The OTTB will be a facet of the VENUS cabled ocean observatory already implemented in the same location which provides real-time ocean data to scientists and students.
Because the Bluefin-12 AUV is a highly flexible platform capable of being fitted with a variety of commercial and prototype payloads, it will be a key instrument in facilitating research and development for the University and the oceanographic community.
The modular Bluefin-12 AUV will be delivered with an empty payload section and a generic standard payload interface, so the OTL can integrate new payloads as their research goals evolve. The vehicle includes three of Bluefin's pressure-tolerant 1.5 kWh battery packs to provide UVic operators with a way to simply and rapidly swap depleted packs for fresh packs. The navigation package includes a proprietary Bluefin-designed software algorithm that combines information from the Inertial Measurement Unit and multiple sensors, including global positioning satellite, Doppler Velocity Log, and compass to provide very high positioning accuracy. The contract also calls for Bluefin's Operator Tool Suite a graphical user interface for mission planning, monitoring and post-mission analysis. Accompanied by a set of topside support equipment and operational spares, the UVic package represents the state-of-the-art in AUV technology.
