deploying the autonomous underwater vehicle. the better ocean shield can define the area, the easier it will be for the autonomous underwater vehicle to subsequently search for aircraft wreckage. it is important to note that ocean shield can search six times the amount of area with a towed pinger locater than can be done with the sonar on the autonomous underwater vehicle. searching under water is an extremely laborious task. so the more work we can do on the surface with the towed pinger locater to fix the position of the transmission, the less work we will have to do below the surface scouring the sea floor. given the guaranteed shelf life