Mike Jacuba

Mike is a member of the ABE team and will be primarily responsible for the processing of sonar data from the SM 2000 multibeam mapping system aboard the ABE vehicle. Data obtained with the SM 2000 system, when combined with the near bottom capabilities of ABE will result in very high-resolution maps (~2 m grids) of the Lost City. These maps will be used to guide the submarine Alvin in exploration of the vents. Mike is also excited to explore how the unique hydrothermal plumes generated by the vents at this site register on ABE's sensors for his thesis work. His thesis is the design of an algorithm to enable an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to autonomously locate and map hydrothermal vents. Mike is a Mechanical Engineering graduate student in the Joint Program in Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering at MIT and WHOI.