This project concerns an investigation into the use of multiple autonomous vehicles cooperating to accomplish a set of tasks. It also includes the use of a smart imaging system capable of analyzing video data in order to direct the autonomous vehicles and obtain new knowledge about the environment. The program is directed at investigating the research issues which allow the development of such a system. A field demonstration is planned which would evaluate the program results by utilizing the EAVE vehicles to perform in-water testing. Success in this program will provide significant advances in understanding the problems associated with multiple cooperating vehicles. It will also provide a new tool for ocean science, a method of acquiring high-quality video and photographic data for better understanding the ocean environment.
