Workshop participants divided into focus groups to consider resident autonomous undersea vehicle (R-AUV) use cases related to these four application areas: mid-ocean ridges and the overlying water column; gas hydrates and coastal oceans; polar, under-ice, and off-planet oceans; and maintenance and operation of installations.

The following technical elements emerged as clear common themes across R-AUV deployment scenarios: power and data management sub-systems, communications, navigation, capable sensor and payload systems, advanced autonomy functions. The single most important conclusion of the workshop is that incremental technological steps toward realizing routine R-AUV operations could yield revolutionary scientific and operational value.