Photo Credit: Harbor Branch - Florida Atlantic University
Automated Underwater Vehicle Testing
Off the Coast of Ft. Pierce Florida
TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale’s 96' Work boat M/V Richard L. Becker supported testing for an AUV produced by Bluefin Robotics and supported by Harbor Branch in Early August. The testing was a success and the program Director at Harbor Branch was kind enough to send the following letter to the crew after the operation was wrapped up:
To: Kevin Collins, R/V Becker Operations and Captain Adrian Baker
I want to thank Captain Adrian Barker and the fine crew (Ben, Chris, Cullen, John) of the R/V Becker for providing us with excellent service during our cruise to test the Automated Underwater Vehicle (AUV), last week, August 7-14. The objectives of this research cruise was to test this prototype vehicle under various offshore conditions, ranging from near shore, shallow water sites, out to shelf-edge reef sites in the Florida Current. These conditions are extremely difficult for any undersea vehicle operations, and especially vehicles that are tethered to the surface and affected by the currents. In addition to the AUV test dives, launch, tracking, and recovery; the crew had to deploy a shipboard CTD/water rosette several times a day, and deploy a heavy pole assembly for the ADCP (current meter) and hydrophone for tracking the AUV prior to each dive.
The crew and captain did a superb job conducting all these various operations under changing and challenging conditions, and altered objectives and plans. They were always willing to do whatever was needed to get the job done. Although the operations were day ops, we generally went from 7:00 am to nearly 8:00 pm each day.
Thank you Captain and the crew!
Sincerely,
John
Check out the photos below from the charter. Sales Manager Barney Hauf smiled and said “A big thank you to Bluefin Robotics and Harbor Branch for chartering the boat, giving us such positive feedback and providing us with photos to memorialize the trip. Our whole company works toward a common goal of solving complex marine problems every day. The team gets a sense of satisfaction when the end result is so positive!”
As a side note, please feel free to ask 1st Mate Ben Bigelow for tips on where to buy the coolest hard hats. Ben is the guy with the hard hat that doubles as a cowboy hat seen in the photos!
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Photo Credit: Harbor Branch - Florida Atlantic University
