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AUV System Fact Sheet
Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE)
Original configuration
Manufactured By: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Description:
The Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) was designed and built by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution with National Science Foundation funding to monitor deep ocean hydrothermal systems. ABE can operate to a depth of 6,000 meters and remain on-station for many months.
Platform: Autonomous Benthic Explorer
Body Type: Open space frame
Size (L×W×H): 3.2 m × 1.68 m × 1.5 m
Weight: 680 kg
Maximum Depth: 6000 m
Dynamic Buoyancy: Yes
Self-Righting: Yes
Obstacle Avoidance: Yes
Endurance (nominal load): 20 hours
Endurance (max load): 14 hours
Primary Missions
- Geophysical Survey
- Hydrographic Survey
- Marine Sciences Survey
- Mineral field survey
- Oceanographic survey
- Seabed Mapping
Propulsion System
Method: Thrusters (7)
DOF: 6
Hovering: Yes
Nominal Speed: 0.17 m/s
Maximum Forward Speed: 0.34 m/s
Batteries
None specified
Launch and Recovery
Reliability / Emergency Systems
None specified
News for This Platform
- 03/15/2010 - ABE, Pioneering Robotic Undersea Explorer, Is Dead at 16
- 03/09/2010 - Pioneering Deep-Sea Robot Lost at Sea
- 03/07/2010 - Bye bye ABE
- 04/15/2009 - Robotic ocean exploration to extend to space
Navigation
None specified
Sonar
- Imagenex Technology Corp. 675kHz scanning sonar, rated to >4,500 m
- Kongsberg Maritime EM2000
Communication
None specified
Mission Considerations
Mission Planning
None specified
Autonomy
None specified
Sensors
- Sea-Bird Electronics Conductivity sensor (SBE 4)
- Sea-Bird Electronics Oceanographic Temperature sensor (SBE 3)
- Seapoint Sensors, Inc. Turbidity meter (STM)
Sensed Properties
Payload Bays
None specified
Notes
ABE designed to perform a predetermined set of maneuvers to take photographs and collect data and samples within an area about the size of a city block. During long deployments, ABE will “sleep” at a docking station between data excursions, conserving power for months of repeating its tasks. ABE particularly excels at near-bottom survey in rugged seafloor terrain. It has performed a variety of fully autonomous, precisely-navigated surveys, including finescale magnetic and bathymetric survey, photo mosaicking, and quantitative survey of hydrothermal plumes. Typical dives last from 16-34 hours, depending on the instrument payload and the bottom terrain. Recent additions to ABE include a multibeam sonar (SM2000),