Underwater inspection using the AUV SeaCat

Abstract

Supported by the R&D-Project CView Atlas Elektronik together with further partners has recently developed an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) named SeaCat which is able to carry a multitude of payloads for various inspection tasks. A specific pan/tilt-inspection head has been created by the Bremen based institute DFKI Robotics Innovation Center, comprising a multibeam sonar and a camera/laser imaging system. Among possible tasks are inspections of the bottom, walls and underwater structures of harbors and waterways. This configuration marks a starting point for further development leading to a unique underwater inspection system. In the near future this will support closing the safety gap which exists today. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.