Rescuers spotted debris from the tourist submarine Titan
on the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic on June
22, 2023, indicating that the vessel suffered a catastrophic
failure and the five people aboard were killed. Below, Purdue
University professor Nina Mahmoudian talks about vehicles
for deep ocean research.
Nina Mahmoudian: When we talk about water studies,
we’re talking about vast areas. And covering vast areas
requires tools that can work for extended periods of time,
sometimes months. Having people aboard underwater
vehicles, especially for such long periods, is expensive and
dangerous.
One of the tools researchers use is remotely operated
vehicles, or ROVs. Basically, there is a cable between the
vehicle and operator that allows the operator to command and
move the vehicle, and the vehicle can transmit data in real
time. ROVs can reach deep ocean — up to a depth of 6,000
meters. It’s also better able to provide the mobility necessary
for observing the sea bed and gathering data.
Autonomous underwater vehicles provide another
opportunity for underwater exploration. They are usually not
tied to a ship. They are typically programmed ahead of time
to do a specific mission. And while they are underwater they
usually don’t have constant communication. At some interval,
they surface, relay the data that they have gathered, change
the battery or recharge and receive renewed instructions
before again submerging.
Crewed1
submersibles will be exciting for the public and
those involved. However, they will be much more expensive
compared with uncrewed explorations because of the required
size of the platforms and the need for life-support systems. So,
uncrewed vehicles provide better opportunities for exploration
at less cost and risk in operating in inhospitable locations.
Using remotely operated and autonomous underwater
vehicles gives operators the opportunity to perform tasks that
are unsafe for humans, like observing under ice and detecting
underwater mines.