GEOMAR  Centre  Central Facilities  Technology & Logistics Centre  AUV - Autonomous underwater vehicles  AUV POSEIDON

Visualization AUV POSEIDON
First visualization of AUV POSEIDON, the planned successor of AUV ABYSS.
Presentation of the project during the Open Day at GEOMAR.
Presentation of the project during the Open Day at GEOMAR.
Checking individual segments and components of the new diving robot in the AUV laboratory of the TLZ.
Checking individual segments and components of the new diving robot in the AUV laboratory of the TLZ.
Test of a model of AUV POSEIDON in the flow channel of Kiel University of Applied Sciences in November 2022.
Test of a model of AUV POSEIDON in the flow channel of Kiel University of Applied Sciences in November 2022.
A segment construction pattern is used to fit parts of the outer shell.
A segment construction pattern is used to fit parts of the outer shell. All photos: AUV Team/GEOMAR

AUV POSEIDON

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been an important working tool for deep-sea exploration for years. Vehicles with a torpedo-like shape can efficiently cover many kilometers on the seafloor over many hours and map large areas visually and acoustically. The AUV POSEIDON is intended to become such an AUV and to succeed the AUV ABYSS.

The former GEOMAR research vessel POSEIDON served for over 40 years and was decommissioned at the end of 2019 Under the name Humanity 1, it is currently used for refugee rescue in the Mediterranean Sea. The new autonomous underwater vehicle is expected to keep the POSEIDON name alive, continuing the research tradition. The go-ahead for the construction of AUV POSEIDON was given at the end of 2020 and will be financed by the proceeds from the sale of the Kiel research vessel by the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

The construction of AUV POSEIDON has already been prepared by the AUV team at GEOMAR since 2016. Projects like AEGIR, CoraMo and MOSES were steps in this direction to build up experience in dealing with open software and hardware development. AUV POSEIDON will be compatible with the "smaller" GEOMAR AUVs LUISE, ANTON and ALBERT in terms of communication and underwater positioning. This will be realized by implementation into the communication infrastructure BELUGA, which has also been developed at GEOMAR.

While the work in the area of software and electronics is carried out almost exclusively by the engineers of the AUV group, in the area of mechanical design there is close cooperation with the GEOMAR Technical and Logistics Center (TLZ) and various working groups at Kiel University of Applied Sciences: in the area of mechanics the AUV group cooperates with Prof. Jochen Hasenpath (FB Mechanical Engineering FH Kiel), in the area of system integration with Prof. Ralf Patz (FB Computer Science and Electrical Engineering) Mechanical Engineering FH Kiel) and in the area of obstacle avoidance with Prof. Bernd Finkemeyer (FB Mechanical Engineering FH Kiel). During the specification phase, close cooperation was also maintained with the AUV group of the Alfred Wegner Institute in Bremerhaven.

 

 

Modules and specifications AUV POSEIDON

Module visualization: Oliver Jahns/GEOMAR
Clicking on the arrows on the right and left of the image will take you to the individual components. Module visualization: Oliver Jahns/GEOMAR.
Drive unit: Propeller with four fins, each controllable in pairs.
Drive unit: Propeller with four fins, each controllable in pairs.
Main pressure body with main computer and accelerometer (INS) for navigation and control of the AUV.
Main pressure body with main computer and accelerometer (INS) for navigation and control of the AUV.
Antennas for communication over water via satellite and WiFi and for determining GPS coordinates.
Antennas for communication over water via satellite and WiFi and for determining GPS coordinates.
Acoustic modems for underwater communication.
Acoustic modems for underwater communication.
Emergency pressure body with monitoring unit to monitor the entire system and take over vehicle control in an emergency.
Emergency pressure body with monitoring unit to monitor the entire system and take over vehicle control in an emergency.
Power supply: Three rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with 13.5 kWh/25 V.
Power supply: Three rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with 13.5 kWh/25 V.
CTD sensor for determination of conductivity, temperature and depth for calculation of sonic velocity.
CTD sensor for determination of conductivity, temperature and depth for calculation of sonic velocity.
Side scan sonar to produce a one-dimensional image of the seafloor.
Side scan sonar to produce a one-dimensional image of the seafloor.
Multibeam echo sounder to create a three-dimensional image of the seafloor.
Multibeam echo sounder to create a three-dimensional image of the seafloor.
Doppler velocity log to determine the distance and speed over ground.
Doppler velocity log to determine the distance and speed over ground.
Framework for holding the individual modules and segments.
Framework for holding the individual modules and segments.
Specifications: Speed (max): 4 knots, water depth (max): 6,000 meters, weight: 1,000 kilograms, length: 5 meters, diameter: 0.6 meters.
Specifications: Speed (max): 4 knots, water depth (max): 6,000 meters, weight: 1,000 kilograms, length: 5 meters, diameter: 0.6 meters.


The AUV POSEIDON, like the AUV ABYSS, is designed for medium and larger research vessels. It can be launched both laterally and from the aft deck, and deployment and transport will be container-based. Unlike many underwater vehicles, which mostly have a titanium chassis, here the frame will be made of a plastic shell into which a frame structure made of polypropylene will be bolted. The inner part of the segments will be modular in order to be able to connect different sensors and components. This means that payload segments can also be exchanged at sea at a later date.

 

Video: Disassembly and assembly of the payload segment
Video: Disassembly and assembly of the battery segment
Infoposter AUV POSEIDON
Infoposter AUV POSEIDON (PDF, as of 10/2022)

  • Dr. Peter Linke
    Scientific management

    GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
    Wischhofstr. 1-3 | D-24148 Kiel

    Tel +49 431 600-2115 | Fax -1601
    plinke(at)geomar.de

     

    Marcel Rothenbeck
    Technical management

    GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
    Wischhofstr. 1-3 | D-24148 Kiel

    Tel +49 431 600-1655 | Fax -1601
    mrothenbeck(at)geomar.de

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