The Story of Autosub
Origins - Wormley, Surrey
The development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and their technological and scientific applications began at the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) based in Wormley, Surrey.
In 1983, a report to the Joint Research Centre of the European Community recommended the development of “An untethered remotely operated vehicle (UROV) with a depth capability of 6000 m and useful payload, including integrated navigation with ‘intelligent’ control systems, 24-hour endurance and a high rate of data gathering with large volume storage”. This idea moved a step closer to reality when John Woods, the soon-to-be Director of Marine Sciences at NERC, met with IOS staff in late 1985 to receive advice for flagship projects, ultimately convincing NERC to support a programme with the name ‘Autosub’.
The Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) based in Wormley, Surrey.
Publications
IOS Review study on the requirements for deep ocean remote handling equipment