In context
Submarine hydrothermal fields are critical windows for energy and material exchange between the lithosphere and ocean, hosting unique ecosystems and polymetallic sulfide deposits. By 2023, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) had become indispensable for detailed, cost-effective exploration in these extreme environments, complementing manned submersibles and ROVs.
What was reported
The review surveys AUVs developed for hydrothermal exploration worldwide, including WHOI's ABE and Sentry, MBARI's D. Allan B., NOC's Autosub 6000, GEOMAR's Abyss, IFREMER's AsterX, Kongsberg's HUGIN series, JAMSTEC's Urashima, and University of Tokyo's r2D4 and TUNA-SAND. These vehicles carry payloads for multibeam sonar, side-scan sonar, CTD, turbidity, Eh sensors, magnetometers, and samplers.
Key applications include mapping seafloor topography, detecting hydrothermal plumes and geophysical anomalies, and collecting samples. Notable achievements include ABE's extensive ridge surveys, Autosub 6000's discovery of the deepest known vent in the Cayman Trough, and HUGIN's finding of Loki's Castle in the Arctic.
China's Qianlong-2 and Qianlong-3 AUVs, developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation and Second Institute of Oceanography, have been deployed in the Southwest Indian, South Atlantic, and Northwest Indian Oceans, acquiring high-resolution terrain, plume distribution, and magnetic data.
Why it mattered
The review highlights AUVs' ability to operate near the seafloor with precise navigation and low noise, enabling high-quality multi-sensor data collection. Future developments in long-endurance, resident AUVs and cooperative operations are expected to accelerate scientific research and sulfide resource exploration, with implications for deep-sea mining and environmental monitoring.
"AUV is an excellent way to conduct hydrothermal surveys, as it can precisely locate vents by detecting extreme values of physical and chemical anomalies."
Source: 《机器人》期刊 (robot.sia.cn) · Published 2023-07-08 · “自主水下机器人海底热液区应用综述”