Applications of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Submarine Hydrothermal Fields

Abstract: The report focuses on the applications of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in submarine hydrothermal fields. Firstly, the development status of AUVs for hydrothermal exploration at home and abroad is introduced. Then, the representative application requirements in the hydrothermal field such as topography, water environment and geophysical field detections and sample collection are proposed. The great achievements in submarine hydrothermal fields by Chinese Qianlong AUVs are also demonstrated. Finally, the technical development tendency of AUV to promote hydrothermal fields research and sulfide resources exploration in the future is prospected.

Wei Cai is an associate professor at the Institute of Oceanography at Southern University of Science and Technology. He is the young chief scientist under the National Key Research and Development Program, the member of the National Technical Committee for Submersible Standardization, the outstanding young talents recruited under Guangdong Province's Zhujiang Program. He is also the director of the center for deep-sea technology and engineering, the deputy director of the laboratory of marine robotics and propulsion systems, and the distinguished expert at the Shenzhen association for the promotion of the Global Marine Center City. He previously served as director of the Ocean Museum at Shenzhen Ocean University.