Community Outreach

Dummy's Guide to Marine Technology

This glossary was originally developed by MTS member Brock Rosenthal. It includes many of the basics of AUVs, including navigation and sensing technologies.

    Download Dummy's Guide to Marine Technology

Design Your Own AUV

ISE's QuickDesign©

In the development of an AUV, there is really only one requirement: ensuring that the AUV meets the needs of your mission.

Because the attributes of these missions will vary, a range of vehicles with different payload configurations, depth ratings and endurances will be needed. No single design — small, medium or large — will be capable of meeting these diverse requirements. This document discusses the design approach to ISE's Explorer platform.

    Download Design Your Own AUV

Desigining an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

NOAA's Aquarius

This document outlines a classroom activity for students in grades 9-12 to teach the principles behind the design of AUVs.

Students will:

  • construct a model of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
  • be able to explain how drag, thrust, and lift forces affect the performance of their model AUV
  • be able to explain how their AUV can be designed to optimize drag, thrust, and lift forces
  • be able to compare and contrast the locomotion of AUVs and aquatic organisms like fishes, sea turtles, or whales
  • be able to explain the difference between mass and buoyancy of an object immersed in water, and explain why AUVs and aquatic organisms need to adjust their buoyancy
  • be able to explain how potential energy turned into kinetic energy in real AUVs, the AUV model, and swimming organisms
  • be able to compute energy and power released during a swim

    Download Designing an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

AUVSI AUV Team Competition Guides

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) sponsored the development of these documents. They are intended for students who are considering participation in the annual AUVSI/ONR Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) competition. The documents provide an overview of engineering and organizational considerations for designing, building, and operating a vehicle for this event.

Development of an underwater system requires knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines, as well as good organizational and execution skills. These documents provide a brief overview of these topics to acquaint readers with the subjects, knowledge, and skills important to competitive teams. The documents also include practical tips and advice based on experience developing and operating AUVs. The authors include past AUV competition participants who have shared their experience.

    Download Introduction and Concept Overview
    Download Engineering Primer