Compact Quantum Magnetometer System on an Agile Underwater Glider.

Area of Science:

• Marine geophysics
• Oceanographic instrumentation
• Quantum sensing technology

Background:

• Underwater magnetic surveys are crucial for detecting marine objects and geological features.
• Existing technologies face limitations in maneuverability, magnetic signature, and data resolution in challenging environments.
• Agile underwater platforms are needed for high-resolution magnetic anomaly mapping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate a compact quantum magnetometer with an agile underwater glider for enhanced magnetic surveying capabilities.
• To develop and validate a system for detecting seeded magnetic targets and mapping anomalies in a constrained environment.
• To establish a foundation for affordable littoral magnetic anomaly mapping infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• Customization of the ROUGHIE underwater glider for increased payload and reduced magnetic signature.
• Mounting a vector and scalar magnetometer suite on an external boom.
• Deployment in a constrained pool with an underwater motion capture system for ground truth localization.
• Implementation of a systematic magnetic disturbance reduction process and anomaly mapping procedure.

Main Results:

• Successful detection of seeded magnetic targets within the pool environment.
• Creation of a magnetic map of the test area.
• Validation of the system's performance in a noisy and constrained setting.
• Demonstration of the potential for automated detection and classification of marine objects.

Conclusions:

• The integrated quantum magnetometer and underwater glider system shows promise for effective magnetic anomaly detection.
• This technology offers a pathway towards affordable and high-resolution magnetic mapping infrastructure in littoral zones.
• The system is capable of extended operations in challenging marine environments, providing timely data for various applications.