The Navy's rising tide of UUVs

Unmanned aircrafts get all the attention nowadays, but it is beneath the waves where robots are making a splash: From detecting and clearing underwater mines to reconnaissance and mapping the ocean floors, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) are becoming increasingly prominent.

Like their robotic counterparts in the air, on land and on the ocean surface, underwater craft are great for dull, dirty and dangerous tasks. They can search for and clear mines while their operators remain safely at a distance, map the ocean floor for monotonous mile after mile, or conduct surveillance of ships and harbors.

A 2009 RAND Corp. study lays out a litany of possible UUV uses, including quick strikes from underwater craft quietly positioned close to their targets, anti-submarine warfare and cyber warfare by accessing underwater communications links. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has several UUV projects underway, according to spokesman Matt Leonard. These include: (Continue Reading)