Autonomy on and in the sea

Within cold water regions, such as the upper Great Lakes and possibly the Arctic Ocean, the scientific potential of autonomous surface and sub-surface vehicles lies primarily in assessment of lower food web dynamics and its physical/chemical drivers, during the strong, annual transition times when conventional platforms (buoys, gliders and research vessels) are precluded from safe or efficient operation (early and late winter when large regions are not fully ice covered). During these times, it is possible to operate well-equipped autonomous vehicles to gain basic science observations, measurements and samples that have previously not been possible. Scientists in the upper Great Lakes and Lake Superior in particular, currently lack the capabilities for real-time science observations during this significant and critical portion of the annual thermal cycle.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/techtalks/1032/thumbnail.jp