Hydrographic Instrumentation and Software for the Remotely Controlled Survey Vehicle 'DOLPHIN'

A remotely operated vehicle, DOLPHIN (Deep Ocean Logging Profiler with Hydrographic Instrumentation and Navigation) has been equipped with instrumentation for multi-vehicle (parallel) offshore hydrographic surveying. The vehicle has been developed to increase productivity and reduce the cost per kilometre of offshore surveys. Cost-benefit analysis of using robotic survey vehicles, hydrographic instrumentation, and software are described. The results of a major test cruise conducted during 1986 in support of the ongoing DOLPHIN development program is discussed.