During the PLUSNET 07 experiment in Dabob Bay, Washington, autonomous kayaks
were used at gateway buoys for a network of AUVs. The kayaks provide an excellent,
inexpensive test platform for additional objectives. One of the four kayaks
had a computer operated winch and Seabird 49 CTD attached. This
kayak was used to demonstrate the ability to provide adaptive sampling from
remote locations. A website was created to which the kayak automatically uploaded
data at the end of each CTD cast. Scientists onshore at MIT were able to analyze
the data in real time, evaluate model results and update the kayak mission profiles
to sample in areas of interest or model ambiguity. The 6 University of Washington
SeaGliders were providing conflicting data to the ocean models. We were able
to deploy the kayak to a specific location to assist in calibration of 3 SeaGliders.
Additionally, we ran a preliminary experiment to measure and verify sound speed,
using pings from the acoustic modems on two of the kayaks and the CTD on a third.