Towards integrated autonomous underwater operations for ocean mapping and monitoring

The NTNU Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems (NTNU AMOS) is as a ten-year research program, 2013-2022, addressing research challenges related to autonomous marine operations and systems applied in e.g. maritime transportation, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, fisheries and aquaculture, oceans science, offshore renewable energy and marine mining. Fundamental knowledge is created through multidisciplinary theoretical, numerical and experimental research within the knowledge fields of hydrodynamics, structural mechanics, guidance, navigation, control and optimization. This paper gives an overview of the research at NTNU AMOS related to mapping and monitoring of the seabed and the oceans. Associated definition and requirements related to autonomy are also addressed. Results and experience from selected field trials carried out in the Norwegian coastal and Arctic waters will be presented. Integrating different sensors and sensors platforms such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and ship-based systems will be shown.