About this book:

*Autonomy at Sea: Designing and Deploying Ocean Robots* provides a comprehensive technical and operational framework for the engineering of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), gliders, and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The book emphasizes a systems-thinking approach, beginning with the fundamental physical constraints of the marine environment—pressure, corrosion, and biofouling—and how these dictate mechanical design, material selection, and power system architecture. It contrasts the differing philosophies of these platforms, from the energy-hoarding persistence of buoyancy-driven gliders to the high-bandwidth, human-in-the-loop dexterity of tethered ROVs, providing guidance on vehicle selection based on mission objectives.

The technical core of the text explores the "autonomy stack," detailing the integration of navigation, communication, and control systems. It provides an in-depth analysis of sensor fusion—combining Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) with Doppler Velocity Logs (DVL) and acoustic positioning—to manage the inevitable drift encountered in GPS-denied environments. The book also addresses the severe bandwidth constraints of underwater acoustics, advocating for edge computing and onboard AI to process data locally and transmit only high-value summaries. Software frameworks such as ROS and MOOS-IvP are evaluated for their ability to manage complex behaviors and multi-vehicle coordination.

Beyond engineering, the book focuses heavily on the realities of field operations, including mobilization, launch and recovery, and mission design for long-term observing programs. It bridges the gap between laboratory development and sea trials, offering practical advice on risk management, fault tolerance, and the human factors involved in supervising autonomous fleets from Remote Operations Centers (ROCs). The text stresses that mission success is dependent on disciplined data stewardship, rigorous maintenance cycles, and a deep understanding of the total lifecycle costs of persistent presence.

The final sections address the broader landscape of modern oceanography, including international logistics, regulatory compliance, and the emerging need for interoperability standards. By analyzing contemporary case studies ranging from under-ice exploration to deep-sea infrastructure inspection, the book distills lessons learned from both triumphs and failures. It concludes by looking toward the future, examining the ethical implications of autonomous decision-making and the environmental responsibilities of deploying large-scale robotic networks in the world's most vulnerable and least understood ecosystems.