AUVs-a technology whose time has come

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) were for decades either expensive military systems or very low cost academic research tools. This technology has evolved into the commercial sector where the number of AUVs being used for offshore surveys and other tasks is increasing at a rapid pace. It is obvious that AUV technology has arrived and the cusp of the transition curve has been reached. This paper addresses the state-of-the-art of AUV technology, discusses the systems being employed offshore, and provides a peek into the future of this exciting field.