Enhancing AUV Operational Capabilities: Hovering,

This proposal describes a program of work designed to contribute to the Navy's capabilities in mastering the mine warfare problem by providing AUV hovering, rendezvous, and docking capability in modular reconfigurable AUVs. These enhanced maneuvering capabilities will extending mission durations, enable stormy weather operations, and provide station keeping abilities for imaging and intervention tasks. The significant activity associated with bottom sediment transport occurs during the energetic sea states associated with inclement weather. Furthermore to extend the duration of AUV reconnaissance missions, docking for recharge and data upload is necessary.