The AUV SARA for Antarctic Surveys: State of the Project and Main Subsystems

Abstract In the framework of Italian National Program for Research in Antarctica, a project aimed at developing an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle was launched. The final goal would be the accomplishment of oceanographic surveys and measurements in wintertime. This condition is strongly required by the oceanography and biology people, because of to day lack of intervention lasting at least 8 months. The AUV SARA is now in the building phase, whereas the key subsystems are separately in developing and testing phase. In this paper the present status of the positioning and the obstacle avoidance Systems is focused.