Technology has taken deep-sea researchers far into the depths since the early expeditions of the H.M.S. Challenger during the 1870s, when the first comprehensive samples of life in the deep ocean were collected. Today, there are several methods to obtain data on benthic communities—from trawls to manned submersibles–but the technological sophistication of ROVs and camera sleds has allowed the biology and ecology of deep-sea habitats and organisms to be efficiently studied. Although many scientists still prefer manned submersibles, unmanned undersea systems will provide the primary means of obtaining scientific knowledge in the future. Their ability to obtain high quality photographic and video documentation of the dive site will allow them to reach previously unobtainable locations. In particular, they will provide the scientist with access to populations in rugged terrain, a topography where even the age old trawl is useless.

The first deep ROV in the United States designed from the outset to support oceanographic science missions is the Woods Hope Oceanographic Institution’s Jason vehicle (see photo). This 19,685 ft (6,000-m) system has completed science missions ranging from the survey of ancient ship wrecks in the Mediterranean to performing geological surveys at hydrothermal vent sites on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Jason uses electric motors for its thrusters, pan/tilt, and manipulator, thus avoiding the need for a noisy and less efficient hydraulic power system and providing more precise control capabilities.

Many of the concepts applied to Jason have been adopted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in the development of a new ROV dedicated to scientific missions—the Tiburon—which conducts scientific investigations in the Monterey Canyon off the coast of California. Missions for which the Tiburon is designed include:

• Instrument placement, retrieval and support.
• In situ experimentation.
• Ecological studies and observations (midwater and benthic).
• Sampling and light coring.
• Surveys of environmental parameters.

In line with the academic development of all electric ROVs is the new all electric Quest ROV being developed by ALSTOM Automation Schilling Robotics in the US. Such technology will provide a nice match to the academic requirements of quiet and efficient ROVs.

In Japan, the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) is developing a family of Dolphin ROVs for scientific missions and for recovery of the Shinkai manned submersibles. The Dolphin 3K, a 9,843 ft (3,000-m) ROV, has been used for geological and biological research operations. More recently, they have completed the development of the Kaiko, which has reached the deepest part of the ocean—37,000 plus feet (11,278 m) in the Mariana Trench.

The Institut Francais de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), long a developer and user of systems for deep exploration, has developed a 19,685-ft (6,000-m) ROV for scientific missions. Called Victor, the ROV became operational in 1998.

Today, the greatest strides being made in the academic community revolve around the development of autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs), with test beds existing in many universities and research institutions around the world. One of the most well known vehicle is the Odyssey class of AUVs (right), built by personnel in the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), through the support of the Office of Naval Research and the Sea Grant College Program. The vehicles are designed for operation to depths of 19,685 ft (6,000 m). At least five vehicles, which have recently become commercially available, have been built to date.

Another AUV that has been used effectively in oceanographic research is the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) built by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. ABE was designed to address the need for long term monitoring of the seafloor. While manned submersibles and ROVs allow intensive study of an area, they can remain on station for only hours, days or weeks. Consequently, a system that can remain in an area gathering data to fill the time voids between submersible and ROV visits would provide another level of more detailed information on temporal variations.

The academic community, due in part to the limited funding available for vehicle development, has become adept at developing very capable yet low cost vehicles. The AUV shown to the left, being developed at Florida Atlantic University in the US, can be mass-produced from non-metallic pressure housing castings and will provide an effective tool in the future for investigating the world’s oceans.