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CMOP acquires REMUS 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) system

05/05/08 Portland, Ore.

The Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction (CMOP) has purchased from Hydroid, LLC an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) system for its studies.

The REMUS (Remote Environmental Measuring Units) 100 is a compact, light-weight, AUV designed for operation in coastal environments up to 100 meters in depth. The CMOP system includes two AUV units, which will be operated by Russ Light's research team at Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington.

"We are all very excited that the AUV system will soon be delivered," Light says. "I expect lively discussions of how best to apply the AUV technology to address key CMOP scientific questions and augment other observations as part of the SATURN instrumentation network.”

The AUVs will be deployed in CMOP's observation network as mobile platforms for oceanographic sensors. The environmental monitoring data they record will play a critical role in analyzing the impact of humans on estuaries and coastal environments. The AUV will also be used to determine the influence of climate on physical and biological conditions and the variability of coastal margins and to identify the role of coastal margins in global elemental cycles.

“AUVs will be critical to our ability to observe high-gradient regions in the Columbia River plume, and perhaps even in the estuary,” says António Baptista, director of CMOP.

The two CMOP AUVs will be deployed periodically throughout each operational year. CMOP will be able to acquire or adapt specialized sensors and cameras to the AUV and configure the vehicle to meet specific scientific objectives.

Visit APL-UW project site to learn more.