MSEL is a small, internationally-known lab that focuses on research in ocean engineering. MSEL is part of the Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute (AUSI), a non-profit, independent research institute in Lee, New Hampshire. At the current time, our research centers around intelligent ocean systems, in particular autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). AUVs are unmanned, untethered submersibles that are capable of carrying out missions autonomously. We have active research programs focusing on intelligent AUV control, AUV control architectural issues, long-range AUV development for ocean science applications, and multiple-AUV systems and cooperative distributed problem solving.
MSEL developed one of the first
AUVs, EAVE-EAST. This was an open space-frame vehicle somewhat smaller
and simpler than the current generation of EAVEs. The original EAVE is
mentioned in Epcot Center's Living Seas exhibit.
Currently, the EAVE AUVs are in
their third generation, the EAVE-III
vehicles. The lab maintains two EAVE-III vehicles for both single-agent and
multiagent research. The lab is also developing a long-range AUV (LRAUV) that is capable of
extended full-ocean depth missions.
MSEL began life about 15 or so years ago at the University of New Hampshire. In 1993, MSEL moved to the Nahant (MA) campus of Northeastern University to become part of NEU's Marine Science Center. Most recently, MSEL moved back to New Hampshire to form the core of AUSI. Every two years, AUSI/MSEL hosts the International Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible Technology, a forum for AUV and related research, development, and applications. This year's symposium was again held on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. For more information about the symposium and an on-line form to request registration forms and more information, click here.
