HUGIN-use of UUV technology in marine applications

Abstract

The HUGIN untethered underwater vehicle (UUV) system is the result of a highly focused development program to provide a cost-effective tool for the offshore industry for high performance topographical seabed mapping and imaging. HUGIN is presently operated on a regular basis, providing commercial survey services to the off shore and scientific communities. The technology also holds great promise in future resource management and naval operations, being a hydrodynamically stable untethered platform that can carry a multitude of sensor systems and be operated ahead of or completely independent of surface ships. This paper describes the basic features of the HUGIN system and gives examples of practical results obtained from survey operations, maritime science data gathering, and deep water mine hunting research.