Development of a Long Range Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for Ocean Observation

This paper mainly introduces Explorer 1000 AUV, a class of long-range AUV, which is newly developed by Shenyang Institute of Automation, CAS. Explorer 1000 is designed to dive to 800 meters underwater for ocean survey and has a 1000 km work range at a speed of 2 knot. Additional, Explorer 1000 AUV has two high-precision variable buoyance systems(VBSs). So it can execute two work modes: fixed-point observation mode that AUV carries out reciprocating profile observation in certain fixed position, and cruise & observation mode that AUV cruises multiple observation points and carries out fixed-point observation at each point. A lot of works have been done to increase the range and endurance of AUV while designing. Finally, Finally, the Yellow Sea trial results are shown to prove the fundamental performances of Explorer 1000 AUV.