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Hovering AUV: New option for in-water hull inspection

Written by Nick Blenkey
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Launching the Blue Fin H-AUV

SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 — General Dynamics Mission Systems featured the Bluefin Robotics hovering-autonomous underwater vehicle (H-AUV) at OCEANS 2016 in Monterey, CA.

The Bluefin Robotics H-AUV locates, identifies and maps structural issues on a ship’s hull including large ocean going cargo ships, petroleum and chemical tankers, cruise ships and military surface and sub-surface vessels without dry-docking the ship.

“Inspecting ship hulls and other underwater surfaces can be a manpower- and cost-intensive part of a ship’s observation and maintenance,” said Matt Graziano, director of Autonomous Undersea Systems for General Dynamics Mission Systems. “This H-AUV also reduces the risk to divers when inspecting potential threats attached to a ship’s hull or other structure.”

The Bluefin Robotics H-AUV operates autonomously and navigates along a hull, bridges or piers. High-resolution images are streamed, recorded and stored by the H-AUV for shipboard or shore-based operators to observe in real time, or study once the scan is complete.

The H-AUV can also conduct undersea observation for port and harbor security, underwater law enforcement investigations, archeological and academic research.

HAUV Didson Data Post Processed by Acoustic View April 2008 HF KingTriton 300dpi

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