Operational Concept and Design of Multiple AUVs for Rapid Underwater Investigation in Case of Maritime Accidents

Abstract

After a helicopter crash off Dokdo Island in 2019, Korea Coast Guard (KCG) decided to develop an unmanned vehicle system capable of underwater survey even in harsh marine environments. The whole system consists of four small-sized AUVs equipped with side scan sonars (SSS AUVs), a mid-sized AUV with synthetic aperture sonar (SAS AUV), an integrated mission control system (MCS), and sensor data post-processing module (DPP). An unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and a robot buoy (RBB) are also included for real-time monitoring or data transmission with underwater acoustic modems and RF communication systems. Each system design has been completed and manufactured, and performance tests and demonstrations based on scenarios by KCG will be conducted from this year.