Tech Talk ARTICLE

April 2005

Autonomous Craft Explores the Deep

edited by Robert H. Williams

A 30-foot unmanned underwater vehicle developed by Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory is performing an array of underwater tasks for the Navy. This improved version of the Seahorse is powered by more than 9,000 standard D alkaline batteries.

The craft, which can cruise at a depth of 1,000 feet, has been successfully tested in Lake Erie and the Bahamas. In the second exercise, Seahorse was launched from a Trident submarine missile tube. The autonomous craft has collected oceanographic data and probed the ocean depths for simulated mines.

The Seahorse was designed to replace tethered platforms, which among other shortcomings are difficult to control. Researchers say the craft can make four knots and travel 500 nautical miles. It is rated to operate for up to 125 hours.

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