Whisker sensors enable AUV deployment near hazards

The design and development of low cost short range and tactile optical fibre sensors for deployment on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) in close proximity to marine hazards is described. These sensors enable the operation of AUVs in confined spaces and close to hazards such as the seabed, sea walls, under overhangs, near sea platforms, etc. The paper also reports on the operation of a mini AUV with these sensors in a test pool. The fibre sensors augment the sensory abilities derived from ultrasonic and other sensors. Of particular interest is proximity detection in the near (less than 1m) and tactile areas.