What does this research mean for the field?

Coordinating a heterogeneous fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles enables dense sampling and in-situ detection of prominent scientific features in confined meso-scale coastal areas. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to examine the saltier plume's influence from Mar Menor lagoon to the Mediterranean Sea using AUVs.

June 6, 2026Open Access

AUV-2011-Underwater robotics experiment in the mar menor coastal lagoon

Key Points

This research aims to examine the saltier plume's influence from Mar Menor lagoon to the Mediterranean Sea using AUVs.
Conducted an underwater robotics experiment utilizing a fleet of AUVs from Spain and Portugal.
Simultaneously deployed at least 3 different AUVs to sample a confined area of less than 50 square kilometers.
Utilized in-situ data collection and validation techniques to interpret scientific data.
Demonstrated successful coordination among multiple research institutions for AUV deployment.
Identified significant scientific features within the saltwater plume area utilizing AUVs.
Enhanced collaboration across institutions to plan and execute underwater experiments effectively.

Abstract

As a result of the meeting held at SARTI in November 2010 (http://sites2.upc.edu/~www-sarti/web/cat/meeting/meeting.php) we are planning to conduct an AUVs experiment in order to determine the influence domain of the saltier plume of water going out the Mar Menor lagoon towards the Mediterranean Sea through The Estacio channel.This goal, besides the relevance to understand the influence of the lagoon on the Mediterranean Sea, offers the challenge of coordinating, for first time, a fleet of AUVs from different research institutions of Spain and Portugal.Experiments like this will follow in the future.These engineering and process oriented challenges are aligned along two primary and two secondary goals: 1) Primary goals: a) Deployment of a heterogeneous mix of mobile assets to densely sample a confined meso-scale area (< 50 Sq.km).While no lower bound on this number is envisioned, we expect at least 3 vehicles in the water simultaneously; b) Obtaining, interpreting and validating science data obtained by in-situ assets including AUVs; 2) Secondary goals: a) Detection of prominent scientific features of interest in-situ by AUVs and b) Detection of such features using ship/shore based human-in-the-loop.A visible side-effect of these primary goals would also ensure that the participating institutions are able to cohesively work together to plan, launch and deploy assets and in the process understand the scientific drivers of the proposed field experiment.The AUVs planned to be involved in the experiment are: GUANAY II (SARTI, UPC), Sparus (U. of Girona), AEGIR (UPCT), SEACON and NAUV (LSTS, U. of Porto).An Slocum Glider (SOCIB) will also be involved.

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