Autonomous Submarines: Broadening Industry's Horizons

• Published in: Sea technology Vol. 42; no. 9; pp. 26 - 33
• Main Author: Morr, B E
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arlington Compass Publications, Inc 01.09.2001
• Subjects: Marine
• ISSN: 0093-3651

Mention submarines and most will think of the large nuclear vessels, capable of extended submerged voyages throughout the earth's oceans or, by total contrast, the smaller, restricted-capability vessels of the tourist variety that barely dip below the sea's surface to give non-scientific passengers a glimpse of what lies beneath the waves. The more informed will also consider the term to include manned submersibles, the best known of which is probably the Alvin, operated by the Woods Holes Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) and capable of descent to great depths. There was also Trieste, the famous bathyscaphe of Auguste Picard and the numerous manned submersibles employed in intervention tasks alongside divers in the early days of North Sea oil production. Their descendants are the one-atmosphere suits used for intervention tasks in relatively shallow working environments.