Fine-Scale Seafloor Survey in Rugged Deep-Ocean Terrain with an Autonomous Robot

The rugged mountainous regions of the deep seafloor hold both great scientific interest as well a host of difficult challenges for autonomous robots. Exploiting its abilities for precise navigation, trackline following, and bottom-following in rough terrain, the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) collected fine-scale bathymetry, magnetics, temperature, optical backscatter, and conductivity over a rugged, neovolcanic and active tectonic zone of the southern East Pacific Rise (18°S). These data sets were combined to produce a variety of maps showing details of the terrain as well as hydrothermal venting.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: ICRA
• Authors: Dana R. Yoerger, Albert M. Bradley, Barrie B. Walden, Marie-Helene Cormier, William B. F. Ryan
• Keywords: Active Tectonic Zone, Autonomous Benthic Explorer, ICRA 2000, Robotics, Rugged Mountainous Regions