Glossary

AIS; Automatic Identification System

Automatic VHF communication system whereby each vessel fitted with an AIS transmitter broadcasts navigation information (position, course, speed, identity, status, length, etc.) to all vessels within range fitted with an AIS receiver. This system can be used to assess the risk of collision and anticipate avoidance maneuvers. The range, of the order of several tens of kilometers, depends on the height of the antenna.

Altimeter; Altimeter

In the subsea sector, an acoustic device similar to a single-beam echosounder, used on robots to measure the distance to the seabed.

AUV; Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Autonomous underwater robot with a predefined mission. Mainly used for measurements (bathymetry, physico-chemical water parameters)...