Part 6/10:
AUVs are sophisticated robots engineered to withstand the immense pressures of the deep ocean, where sunlight vanishes and traditional communication methods falter. Operating at depths exceeding 10,000 feet, they must be built to endure extreme conditions, including crushing pressures, near-zero temperatures, and complete darkness.
One of their key challenges is communication: at such depths, standard internet, cell signals, or GPS are ineffective. Instead, AUVs rely on acoustic signals, which have limited bandwidth, akin to the slowest dial-up internet from the 1990s. Despite this, recent innovations are enhancing their capabilities through collaborative autonomy or swarming technology.