AUV engineer, Greg Packard, and sonar analyst, Andy Sherrell, go over recent sonar data from the seafloor. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

The Woods Hole AUV group with one of the AUVs in their shop. Photo Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The air-conditioned vans used for working on the AUVs while on deck. Photo Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

WHOI AUV techs with the Waitt Institute's new REMUS 6000. Photo Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The WHOI AUV Team. Photo Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The CATALYST AUV, Mary Ann, awaits testing on deck before the CATALYST 1 expedition embarks. Photo Credit: Michael Dessner

The CAT team tests Ginger on the LARS at dock before departing. Photo Credit: Michael Dessner

Ginger, the AUV. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

Don Liberatore and Jim "Sully" Sullivan secure the AUV onto the LARS. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

The Deep Ocean Transponder (DOT) that the AUVs use for underwater navigation. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

The DOT transponder rig floats behind the R/V Seward-Johnson just before its weights are released to take it to the ocean bottom. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

Lead scientist John Reed looks over sonar data with sonar analyst, Don Koningsor. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

Ginger is pulled up after a successful mission. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

Mary Ann, the 6000-meter AUV. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

Mary Ann sits on the back deck after a sortie. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

The aft deck of the R/V Seward Johnson, including the AUV Launch and Recovery System. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

The Waitt Institute's CATALYST AUV, Mary Ann, locked down in her hut. Photo Credit: Brian Cousin

This is a 410Khz side scan sonar image of a cargo ship hatch cover. The hatch is about 15m or 50ft square. The water depth is 5000m or 16,400feet.

This is a 410Khz side scan sonar image of cargo ship hatch covers. The black streak is the AUV’s path where the vehicle cannot see directly below it. The picture is 200m(656 feet) wide, with each hatch being about 15m or 50ft square. The black area around the orange sqaures represent shadows€™ which only occur when an object sticks up off the seafloor giving us a height measurement. The water depth is 5000m or 16,400feet.

The CAT 2 team brings Mary Ann out on deck for a launch. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

The R/V Seward Johnson with LARS and Mary Ann out on deck, ready for launch during CATALYST 2. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

The R/V Seward Johnson with LARS and Mary Ann out on deck, ready for launch during CATALYST 2. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

The R/V Seward Johnson motors toward a drop point with Mary Ann in tow ready for launch. Photo Credit: Ian Kellett

WHOI's Steve Murphy and HBOI's Craig Caddigan watch carefully as Mary Ann is winched out on deck for launch. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

Ginger at the surface ready to drop in for a sortie. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

AUV engineer Brennan Phillips checks on Ginger as she's rolled back into her van. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

Ginger is hoisted back up on deck by the LARS. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

Ginger at the surface waiting to be brought up on deck. Photo Credit: Ian Kellett

An AUV floating at the surface. Photo Credit: Ian Kellett

Ginger sits on the Launch and Recovery System (LARS) ready for launch. Photo Credit: Ian Kellett

Ginger at the surface waiting to be brought up on deck. Photo Credit: Stephani Gordon

A Deep Ocean Transponder (DOT) floating at the surface waiting to be picked up. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

The CAT 2 team brings in a Deep Ocean Transponder (DOT). Photo Credit: Liz Smith

Deep Ocean Transponders (DOTs) used to help the vehicles navigate at depth. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

An AUV floating at the surface waiting to be recovered back on deck. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

An AUV floating at the surface waiting to be recovered back on deck. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

The newly minted WID logo on one of the AUVs. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

An AUV in the van during CATALYST 2. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

An AUV in the van during CATALYST 2. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

An AUV in the van with its batteries out, waiting to be turned around for the next mission. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

An AUV strapped down on its cart in the van. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

One of the AUV's batteries, secured for transit. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

The photographic still camera on the belly of the AUV. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

The work desk in one of the vans. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

Brennan Phillips and Frank Lombardo work the line to bring Mary Ann back on board. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

Mary Ann in tow, about to be pulled back on deck. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

AUV engineers Brennan Phillips and Mark Dennett check on Ginger before raising the LARS for a launch. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

Mary Ann heads back into her van to get some new batteries and get turned around for a new mission. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

Mary Ann sits on her cart in the van. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

The inside of the AUV van, complete with spare batteries and a work desk. Photo Credit: Liz Smith

WHOI AUV engineer Brennan Phillips holds a Deep Ocean Transponder (DOT) on his shouder. Photo Credit: Liz Smith