SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Europe

Underwater vehicles and marine technologies are very important to the European countries visited. This is evidenced by government sponsored and funded programs such as the Marine Technology Directorate program sponsored by the United Kingdom's Science and Engineering Research Council and France's IFREMER program. There is also a European-wide focus through the Marine Science and Technology program. European marine technology and UV activities are well planned and focused, and funding, though never enough, is adequate. The bottom line is that the Europeans are making good progress in developing AUVs toward some very useful national and regional objectives in ocean research. Good work is also in progress toward development of ROVs for the offshore oil industry.

The organizations involved in UV development and marine research are just as well equipped for research, engineering, and overall system integration. Their computer equipment and test facilities are as modern and capable as any in the United States.

Russia and Ukraine

To summarize:

• Labor and materials are still inexpensive. This has led in the past to an emphasis on manned UVs rather than unmanned units because it is easier to integrate, maintain, and use the low-cost labor to good effect. This trend will probably continue into the near future until the industrial sector in these countries begins to mature and costs drive them toward unmanned systems. In the West, the high cost of labor and the risk of litigation and insurance penalties have driven the United States toward unmanned solutions. However, the same cost of labor has made sophistication and high technology expensive. The United States has improved performance and minimized man-dependency, but in some cases has violated the basic rules of "keep it simple" and "sufficient is good enough." U.S. researchers are too often enamored of the whiz-bang solution rather than the simplest solution.

• Fundamental science in Russia and Ukraine is impressive and based on sound theory. Due to lack of computational capabilities, there has been a focus on empirical validation rather than in-depth analysis. This will continue during the settling out process of economic, political, and defense conversion.

• Researchers in Russia and Ukraine have been very creative in applied research, and have many accomplishments that equal or exceed what has been achieved in the West. Some examples include manned submersibles, acoustic tomography, nonacoustic ASW, high-speed underwater projectiles, and materials development for the marine environment.

• Engineering is generally behind that of the West in sophistication but not necessarily in results. Some engineering and integration that Russian and Ukrainian engineers have done well include the following:
  • Numerous and very good research test facilities
  • Short development spans based on the build it, field it, and then improve it theory
  • Avoiding the analysis paralysis that slows progress in the West
  • Lack of preoccupation with aesthetics. Equipment and systems are built stout to last and simple for easy maintenance.