Review of Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (AUV) Developments 
LITTORAL OCEAN OBSERVING AND PREDICTIVE SYSTEM (LOOPS) [30] 
This project includes twelve partners from academia, government laboratories, and industry for 
the development of the scientific and technical conceptual basis of a generally applicable 
interdisciplinary littoral ocean and observing system, the Littoral Ocean Observing and 
Predictive System (LOOPS). A modular structural concept for linking, with feedbacks, 
dynamical models, and measurements via data assimilation will be developed, with an 
emphasis upon adaptive sampling, flexibility, and portability. The integrated system software 
architecture and infrastructure will stress versatility and efficiency via central databases for the 
measured ocean and the estimated ocean. Research to be carried out includes Observational 
System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) for generic coastal processes and a range of civilian 
and naval application areas and sea trials to explore issues in the real-time implementation of 
LOOPS. The partners bring to the program diverse and relevant expertise and experience in 
interdisciplinary ocean science; systems and ocean engineering; data assimilation and ocean 
prediction methodologies; and synthesis and collaboration, as well as a suite of existing robust 
and tested measurement and model components for integration into the overall system. 
ATLANTIC LAYER TRACKING EXPERIMENT (ALTEX) [31,32] 
The project goal is to develop AUVs capable of observing basin-scale evolution in the Arctic 
(figures 17, 18). This requires the development of energy, navigation, and communication 
systems specifically tailored for extended autonomous operations under ice. One program 
objective is to provide a means of monitoring changes taking place in the Arctic Ocean and 
investigate its impact on global warming. Such a capability is of national and global interest and 
\ Trackpoint 
\ transponder ULS 
Pressure = 
One-piece LJ sana LB | pees ore modem 
control surlaces transducer | seth transponder 
individually iy | 
addressable 
FAU connector, but | Hull is gel-coated kevlar 
FAU “Podule* with Ti instead of Al | Shape: Series 58, 4154E 
Stainless steal, | with a oylindriolal midsection 
not PVC, housing 
Fuel cell will have enough 
tloation to be neutrally buoyant 
17° Benthos sphere with 
Main Vehicle Computer 
Attitude Heading Reference 
Sonar ronios 
acoustic modem electrorics 
CT electroics 
Figure 17. ALTEX-Reference Vehicle Mechanical Layout 
42 
