Autosub6000 Robot submarine to explore undersea volcanoes

The UK has developed a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the Autosub6000. It will be able to explore some of the world’s deepest undersea volcanoes which are located in the Caribbean.

The Autosub6000 Robot submarine has a range up to 1,000 kilometers and operates in depths up to 6,000 meters. The robot sub measures 5.5 meters long and has a diameter of 0.9 meter. The Autosub6000 has been equipped with a high-performance GPS unit.

Autosub6000 is on two expeditions both a month long and will be joined by Isis remotely operated vehicle (ROV). This robot is able to grab animal specimens also at a depth of 6,000 meters.

National Oceanography Center researchers are to lead the both missions. The researchers believe that one in every two animals that they come across will be new species, once they reach a depth of 3,000 meters.

The Autosub6000 had its first trials back in October 2007, and were very successfully.

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