WP1 will study al the general aspects of technologies, the mining sites and the conditions which are met there. In this sense WP1 will serve as the starting point for all relevant technologies developed in WPs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

In WP2, after getting feedback from the preliminary study compiled in WP1, the LIBS system will be studied and designed. In the same manner all necessary pressure housing equipment for the LIBS system will be designed and analyzed, considering the AUV specifications used in ROBUST. Necessary requisites for scanning the mineral deposits will also be developed, such as sediment removal from mineral deposits and LIBS control (start and finish scanning.

In WP3 automatic mineral deposit recognition schemes will be developed using various techniques, while in WP 4 3D sea bed mapping and volume measurement of ferromanganese nodules will be studied and developed, using acoustic, optical and laser scanning systems.

In WP5 the AUV and UMA manipulator will be designed and developed in order to perform the functions and mission profile defined in WP1. In WP6 the overall control and synergy between AUV and UMA manipulator will be developed.

WP7 involves the manufacturing, testing and integration of all the Sw and Hw designed and developed in WPs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The large scale tests will be accomplished in WP8 along with the evaluation of results from these tests and the Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA).

Lastly WP9 involves the dissemination and exploitation of results and WP10 the management and coordination.