Rendezvous Point Technique for Multivehicle Mine Countermeasure Operations in Communication-Constrained Environments

Abstract

AbstractAdvantages of using a multivehicle network over a single autonomous underwater vehicle platform include extended coverage area, potential cost and time efficiency, and more robust performance. A common issue that slows advancement in the field is the limited available communication between the platforms. The approach we propose is based on assigning a sequence of rendezvous points (RPs) where the vehicles can meet and exchange information. The work we present in this paper applies principally to mine countermeasure and suggests that, despite the disadvantage of time to allow for the vehicles to reach the RPs, there are techniques that can minimize the losses and provide advantages such as easier coordination and access points for operator monitoring and system modifications. The results we present in this paper give an estimate of the reduction in loss if such an approach is employed. We make a comparison between the RP and a benchmark case by analyzing numerical simulations.