RRS Discovery Cruise 343, 27 Sep-15 Oct 2009. Deepwater trials of the Autosub6000 AUV, HyBIS, and telemetry systems

There were 3 main objectives for the trials cruise: Testing of the Autosub6000 AUV, the HyBIS system (both supported by personnel from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton), and acoustic and satellite telemetry systems (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, Liverpool). Specifically, the Autosub6000 trials were to test: the AUV, its systems and control to as deep as possible up to 6000 m, a new collision avoidance system based on scanned sonar collision avoidance sensor, and recently installed sensors (dual CT, LSS EH probe, magnetometer, Multibeam sonar sensors). The objectives of the HyBIS trials were to test the video guided grab system to as deep as possible, and to gain further operational experience. The objectives of the telemetry systems trials were to develop and test remote measurement technologies, deep water communication systems and a compact version of the MYRTLE (multi-year return tide level equipment) long term deep water recoverable lander. The cruise began with initial tests of the Autosub6000 AUV in the Celtic deep, followed by deep tests of the AUV to 5600m on the Iberian Abyssal plain. The majority of the work for the Autosub6000, HyBIS and the POL telemetry tests were carried out further south over and around the Casablanca seamount. A high percentage of the tests were successful, with Autosub6000 reaching a depth of 5600m.