It is interesting that the mechanical INS technology, that was originally invented at MIT, is still the most accurate. AUVs have very demanding navigation requirements. This is mostly because an AUV, unlike an airplane, has to operate for a long time between external navigation updates. For the end user it is important to understand INS Technology. As the AUV completes its survey, the error grows and shrinks.
Most people realize that the navigation error is a function of time.
It will take the survey industry some time before this error behavior is widely understood and accepted as normal. Both the underlying sensors and algorithms are being upgraded. In our opinion it is not possible for a small company to be a player in the AUV market. At-sea testing is critical to achieve the required reliability and this is prohibitively expensive, the cost of one cruise can be up to a million dollars. The required investments are too large and the technology is changing too rapidly.