Sensing, Control, and Decision-Making Systems for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology have allowed for a rapid progression in their capabilities of agility and autonomy. This is the case in long-range surveillance missions, deep sea operations, offshore installation inspection, mapping the sea floor, securing harbors, searching for sea mines, etc.  Nevertheless, AUV applications still have great latitude for advances in autonomy for exploration and interventions in highly complex underwater artificial and natural structures and systems. Naturally, the development of autonomy is ensured by developments in sensing, self-decision-making, and intervention capabilities. Thus, better and more accurate sensors and their real-time processing due to modern embedded computer power is an essential contribution to AUV-augmented perception autonomy. From this improved perception, the recent advances in AI algorithms reinforce the self-decision-making capabilities of AUVs. The increased capabilities of intervention are due mainly to the AUVs’ agility and manoeuvrability, which result from the propulsion system architecture, notably with recently developed reconfigurable propulsion topology and high-level control algorithms.

This Special Issue aims to collect original research or review articles on recently advanced subjects in the field of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), especially: sensing, control, and decision-making systems. Topics of interest for publication include but are not limited to: sensor-based and behaviour control, advanced sensing, control, and propulsion systems for complex underwater exploration, inspection, or intervention, and advanced sensing and control for underactuated AUVs.

Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Delaleau
Dr. Olivier Chocron
Dr. Henrique Fagundes Gasparoto
Dr. Titouan Verdu
Guest Editors

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