AUVS technical guide
AUV Navigation
How INS, DVL, GNSS, acoustic positioning, terrain navigation and uncertainty management work together underwater.
Core concept
GNSS signals do not provide a submerged position solution, so an AUV propagates position from an inertial navigation system. A DVL measures velocity relative to the seabed when bottom lock is available. Pressure supplies depth; compass and attitude sensors constrain orientation.
What engineers and buyers should verify
USBL, LBL and single-transponder systems can add acoustic fixes. Terrain-aided navigation compares measured bathymetry with a map. Every method has geometry, range and environmental limits, so credible specifications name the aiding sensors and state accuracy conditions.
Reading specifications responsibly
Configuration, payload, speed and mission conditions matter. AUVS preserves the manufacturer’s published language, marks unavailable values as “Not published,” and links every vehicle record to provenance.