Delivery of a Gavia AUV for SAMS
Teledyne Gavia has completed the sale and recent delivery of a Gavia Offshore Surveyor AUV to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, Scotland. This Gavia AUV is rated to 500m depth and includes an interferometric bathymetry system as its primary scientific sensor. The device utilises a Teledyne RD Instruments high-accuracy doppler velocity log-aided inertial navigation system for subsea positioning.
Additional modules can be added as SAMS AUV mission requirements evolve. The SAMS Gavia AUV will be known as Freya after the Norse goddess of beauty and will be employed for a variety of scientific applications including habitat mapping and geomorphology with initial archaeological surveys planned for July 2015.
Dr John Howe, senior lecturer in marine geology, stated, “SAMS are delighted to receive the Gavia AUV on behalf of the NERC Marine Autonomous and Robotics (MARS) community. We have been especially impressed by the vehicle's adaptability and ease of use and the GeoSwath+ data has been excellent. We look forward to working closely with Gavia in the future”.
The Gavia AUV is an autonomous sensor platform that is user-configurable by the addition of one or more sensor, navigation, or battery modules utilising a twist lock system. The Gavia is a fully low-logistics modular system designed to be operated from vessels of opportunity.
The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is Scotland’s largest and oldest independent marine science organisation, dedicated to delivering marine science for a healthy and sustainable marine environment through research, education and engagement with society. Based near Oban on the Scottish west coast, SAMS research strengths include marine renewables, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, marine policy, deep-sea systems, climate change and polar science.
