AUV System Spec Sheet

Puma configuration

Platform: SeaBED
Developer: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Manufacturer: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Commercial Operator: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Summary

Puma and Jaguar were designed for deep-seafloor operation under the Arctic icecaps. Fully assembled, the vehicles are about 2 meters long, 1.5 meters tall, and weigh about 250 kilograms in air. The vehicles are driven by three thrusters capable of driving the vehicle forward at about 35 centimeters per second. Both vehicles are rated to a maximum operational depth of 6000 meters — this allows us to reach the bottom of more than 99% of the world’s ocean. Both vehicles are powered by six kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries, approximately equivalent to 100 laptop batteries, and can stay submerged for up to 24 hours.

While Puma and Jaguar are outfitted with identical thrusters and navigation sensors, they differ in their science payloads and in how they are used. Both vehicles carry standard oceanographic sensors for measuring water temperature, conductivity, pressure, and salinity, as well as navigation sensors, including a 3-axis north seeking fiber optic gyroscope, doppler velocity log, and depth sensor. Both vehicles also carry a WHOI MicroModem. In addition, the AUVs carry specialized sensors used for finding hydrothermal plumes, including an “Eh” sensor developed by Dr. Ko-ichi Nakamura of AIST for measuring oxidation-reduction potential in the water.

Puma (the “plume mapper”) carries sensors designed for water-column surveys, most notably a pair of optical backscatter sensors for measuring the amount of particulate matter suspended in the water.