Towards persistent cooperative marine robotics

This work describes the ongoing effort to derive methods to collectively direct a heterogeneous group of vehicles trajectories, velocities, communication rates and sampling rates by the navigational accuracy required, energy consumption, communication performance and observational goals. These methods are being experimentally validated through field trials during the Summer and Fall of 2016. Initial results demonstrate the utility of using fine scale regional oceanographic models as a tool to locate features of interest; inform the spatial extents, bandwidth and power usage of both satellite and acoustic communication methods; and provide data on the performance and energy usage of the acoustically aided and dead-reckoned navigation methods.