A buoyancy glider equipped with a tri-dimensional acoustic vector sensor for real-time underwater passive acoustic monitoring at low frequency

Researchers successfully integrated a tri-dimensional acoustic vector sensor into a buoyancy glider, enabling real-time underwater passive acoustic monitoring at low frequencies. The 3D GeoSpectrum M20-040 sensor, despite its compact size, provides directionality from a few Hz to 3 kHz, a significant advancement for marine research. The study also introduced an acoustic modem for underwater communication with a USBL system, allowing real-time glider position tracking and data transmission without surfacing. Preliminary tests during the REP18-Med trials off Palmaria Island, Italy (October 2018), demonstrated the system's potential for smooth navigation and reliable data collection. The paper details the system's design and discusses results from water-tank and at-sea experiments, highlighting its suitability for sensitive passive surveys in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands.

Tesei, A., Stinco, P., Micheli, M., Garau, B., Biagini, S., Troiano, L., & Guerrini, P. (2019). A buoyancy glider equipped with a tri-dimensional acoustic vector sensor for real-time underwater passive acoustic monitoring at low frequency. OCEANS 2019 - Marseille, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/oceanse.2019.8867391