Augmented Reality and Data Fusion techniques for Enhanced Situational Awareness of the Underwater Domain

System evaluation of AUV embedded technologies via the standard hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) method is based solely on the outcome of the actual embedded system. This limits the amount of testing that can be done before real world trials of the platform. This paper proposes a novel framework for rapid evaluation and integration of embedded technologies for AUVs. The proposed framework uses the concepts of Augmented Reality (AR) and data fusion providing functionality beyond HIL. Testing can be executed across all stages of the reality continuum providing capabilities for pure simulation, HIL, Hybrid Simulation (HS) and Real world testing. This is achieved by a generic framework of components consisting of both real and simulated components. The framework is supported by a distributed communications protocol implemented by all components both on and off the embedded platform.