AUV IRSAS for submarine hydrothermal deposits exploration

Abstract

Small AUV “IK-A” equipped with IRSAS was developed for submarine hydrothermal deposits exploration. Observed IRSAS data could acquire the back scatter image and bathymetry. One of the features of the seafloor hydrothermal deposits is the chimney and the mound-like terrain. Back scatter image can distinguish these terrain and other terrains. IRSAS has increased much measurable terrain by switching the pointing angle and real/synthetic aperture. On the other hand, perturbations of small IK-A, it was detected that affects the synthetic aperture processing. At the moment, there is a need to solve the problems of the following two points. Improving motion correction for synthetic aperture processing. Determination of the switching criteria of the narrow beam transmitter or wide beam transmitter.