The MOLA AUV can be deployed with a small crew from a small boat or even from shore. Its compact size and vectorized thrusters configuration enable precise control over all six degrees of freedom—forward, lateral, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw—allowing it to navigate rugged underwater terrain with ease.

At the core of the MOLA AUV is a commercially available Boxfish submersible, modified to meet  MBARI’s CoMPAS Lab specifications and enhanced with custom instruments and sensors developed by MBARI engineers. 

A forward-looking camera records 4K video of marine life and habitats while stereo cameras capture detailed seafloor imagery and support navigation. Under low-visibility conditions, a forward-looking sonar captures acoustic images to aid navigation and seafloor mapping, leveraging AI-based algorithms developed at MBARI. Researchers can use the trove of visual data from the vehicle’s sensors to create photomosaics and 3D reconstructions of seafloor environments.

Designed with scalability in mind, the MOLA AUV’s sensor suite can be adapted for other vehicles and platforms. Over time, MBARI plans to make the MOLA platform open-source, providing public access to the vehicle’s hardware and software specifications. This initiative will allow researchers and developers worldwide to adapt the technology for their own applications, further advancing ocean exploration.