System and method for automated rendezvous, docking and capture of autonomous underwater vehicles

An automated rendezvous and docking system for autonomous underwater vehicles comprising:

• an autonomous underwater vehicle;
• a docking rod releasably connected to said autonomous underwater vehicle, said docking rod having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end configured to a sphere having a diameter larger than said docking rod;
• a structural support member within said docking rod, said structural support member traversing the length of said docking rod;
• an annulus surrounding said structural support member and having a plurality of channels radially about the surface of said annulus;
• a plurality of LED light strips within said plurality of channels of said annulus;
• and
• a hollow external tube surrounding said annulus and said plurality of LED light strips therein.