Deep ocean exploration and marine data acquisition: uses of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)

Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological communication are transforming manned vehicles utilized on land, in the air, and at sea into Unmanned (UM) Vehicles (UVs) that function autonomously without supervision. UM Marine Vehicles (UMVs), comprising UM Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and UM Surface Vehicles (USVs), possess the capability to execute marine operations unattainable by manned vessels, mitigate personnel risk, enhance the efficacy of military missions, and generate substantial economic advantages. This review aims to uncover historical and contemporary patterns in UMV growth and provide viewpoints into potential advancements in UMV technology. The assessment examines the prospective advantages of UMVs, such as executing marine operations unattainable by crewed vessels, mitigating the danger associated with human involvement, and enhancing capabilities for army operations and financial gains. The advancement of UMVs is comparatively sluggish compared to UVs employed on land and in the air, attributable to the challenging circumstances for UMV operations. This study emphasizes the difficulties in creating UMVs, especially in hostile environments. It underscores the necessity for ongoing developments in transmission and connecting methods, navigational and acoustic finding methods, and multi-vehicle mission planning methods to enhance UMV collaboration. The research underscores the need to integrate AI and Machine Learning (ML) technology in UVs to augment their independence and capability to execute intricate operations. The article offers perspectives on the present status and prospective trajectories for UMV growth.