Review of Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (AUV) Developments 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
In 1991, the Office of Naval Research, the Deep Submergence Office of the U.S. Navy (OP23), 
the National Science Foundation, the National Undersea Research Program of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Advanced Research Programs Agency of the 
U.S. Department of Defense provided funds for the Marine Board of the National Research 
Council to conduct a study, "Undersea Vehicles and National Needs" [1]. The study was 
completed and published in 1996. One conclusion of this study stated that undersea vehicle 
technologies are generally mature enough to permit autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to 
be built ... designed to work in parallel with survey vessels increasing the efficiency of 
oceanographic sections and hydrographic surveys. In addition, AUVs are able to operate 
independently on data-gathering missions to provide detailed information about ocean 
dynamics, including physical, biological, and chemical processes. 
This report provides information on developments in AUVs for use in considering and 
developing plans to improve the mission capability of COMNAVMETOCCOM through the 
application of AUVs. That mission is to collect, interpret, and apply global data and information 
for safety at sea for strategic and tactical warfare and for weapons system design, development, 
and deployment. 
AUVs hold great promise for enhancing Naval tactical oceanography knowledge. The need for 
real-time littoral zone oceanographic capabilities is described by the National Research Council 
Naval Studies Board [2]. 
On November 28, 1995, the Chief of Naval Operations requested that the National Research 
Council initiate (through its Naval Studies Board) a thorough examination of the impact of 
advancing technology on the form and capability of the naval forces to the year 2035. One 
panel focused on future naval forces and the operating environment. In their 1997 report [2], the 
Panel emphasized the importance of highly accurate and timely knowledge of the operating 
environment. 
To partially satisfy the recommendations, the Study Board described technologies that need to 
be developed by the Department of the Navy in Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) [2]. 
"The most significant UUV technology needed for long-duration (30 days or longer) autonomous 
operation is safe, reliable, high-energy-density and high-power-density batteries and fuel cells operating 
from seawater or equivalent sources of energy. Of almost equal importance is the need for compact, 
cost-effective, reliable UUV hardware and software systems. 
On-board intelligent navigation and control and decision planning and re-planning are essential 
technologies for reliable, long-term unattended operations. Other important technologies include low- 
power, high-performance acoustic and non-acoustic sensors; high-bandwidth, continuous, covert 
communications between cooperating UUVs, between UUVs and hosts, and between UUVs and global- 
reaching operators; and automated re-supply, launch, and recovery from unmanned hosts. 
Low observability to avoid acoustic and non-acoustic detection is essential to the survivability of 
autonomous UUVs. This requires vehicle shaping, acoustic and optically absorbing material coatings, 
equipment quieting, and low-noise propulsion, such as direct electric drive. 
Technologies for long-duration, highly reliable autonomous surveillance and tactical missions will need to 
be developed by the Department of the Navy." 
