Riptide Autonomous Solutions, a developer of unmanned maritime vehicles, has announced that it has completed the delivery of its first three production Micro-UUVs to the US Navy’s SPAWAR Systems Center – Pacific. The unmanned undersea vehicles are configured with a flooded payload module that will enable rapid payload development and demonstration.

The Micro-UUV, Riptide’s first product, is a highly flexible, open source autonomous undersea vehicle that provides a state-of-the-art solution ideally suited for developers of autonomy and behaviors, power systems, subsea sensors, and new payloads. The Micro-UUV features open hardware and software interfaces, giving users a reliable and robust platform to advance technology development. The vehicle design is optimized for high efficiency and Riptide claims it has the best hydrodynamic signature in its class.

“This is an exciting milestone for Riptide. In less than one year’s time, we pulled together a great team of people and fielded a highly capable, highly flexible UUV at a very affordable cost point. The vehicle platform will continue to evolve and mature quickly, enabling end users to rapidly develop and demonstrate new applications in this growing market,” said Jeff Smith, Riptide’s President.

Riptide’s micro-UUV features three individually actuated control fins providing active roll stabilization. An active GPS antenna, WiFi communications, and vehicle recovery strobe LED’s are integrated into the vertical control fin, reducing the vehicle’s hydrodynamic signature for maximum efficiency. Multiple energy source options allow maximum flexibility for endurance, safety, shipping, and mission optimization. The Aluminum-Seawater Battery planned for demonstration in late 2016 from Riptide’s partner Open Water Power will provide unparalleled energy density (endurance) and safety.

The Micro-UUV features a flexible software architecture leveraging a large amount of open source software. Dr. Dani Goldberg, Riptide’s Software Principal, said: “It is our hope that an active and vibrant user community will grow around the Micro-UUV platform. To help foster this vision, we are providing users with Riptide-developed source code under a standard open source license. We are also maximizing our use of existing open source software, both to provide a mature platform and to tap into existing energetic user communities.” In the initial release of Micro-UUV software, Riptide is providing code for the Arduino and Beaglebone Black development platforms, as well as support for the MOOS-IvP robot control engine. Future releases are planned to include support for ROS (the Robot Operating System) and streamlined user interfaces.

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Deep Trekker Inc., the world’s only manufacturer of completely portable remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) has released a new hybrid power system for the DTG2 line of ROVs. The system provides optional unlimited deployment capabilities. Users now have the option of operation and charging the internal batteries while the system is plugged in. The ROV can also be switched to its on-board batteries for up to 8 hours of deployment at any time.

With Deep Trekker’s internal batteries, ROV pilots around the world have benefited from being able to launch the entire system in the most remote areas from one carrying case with no generator or additional top-side gear. The internal batteries provide 6 – 8 hours of operation with a 1.5 hour re-charge time, more than enough power for the majority of tasks in underwater work.

Challenging circumstances in environmental monitoring, salvage, and recovery projects often require a Deep Trekker ROV to be in operation for more than 8 continuous hours at a time. For these specific tasks, Deep Trekker now offers a hybrid-power ROV, providing a continuous charge to the ROV’s on-board batteries.

This new system will still use a lightweight 5 mm tether similar to that on Deep Trekker’s battery operated ROV designed to send power to the batteries. A simple charging cord, resembling a laptop charger connects to the tether reel. Thus Deep Trekker ROVs can operate indefinitely while plugged in.

“We strive for the most robust and easy to use subsea systems, we have batteries inside our ROVs so anyone, anywhere can inspect underwater.” commented Sam Macdonald, Deep Trekker President. “Now, with this added option to provide continuous power, anyone can have the best of both worlds to extend their operations and deploy in less than 30 seconds.”

Traditional ROVs are designed to be deployed using top-side power. Although this allows for unlimited mission times, the industry sought out a compact solution for immediate deployment. This gap in the market has been filled by Deep Trekker ROVs; with self-contained batteries, a handheld control system, and one carrying case.

The proven DTG2 design has been adopted in more than 70 countries around the world in industries such as military, police, infrastructure inspection, tank inspection, environmental research, and aquaculture. The new hybrid-power ROV will bring all of the proven robust and capable features of the DTG2 ROVs, such as its die-cast aluminum frame and 330° field of view camera, to a larger marketplace which is demanding longer mission capabilities.

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BAE Systems has announced that it been awarded a £15.5 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to manufacture and deliver Archerfish mine neutralisers, continuing its support to the U.S. Navy’s minesweeping operation. Archerfish is a remotely-controlled underwater vehicle equipped with an explosive warhead to destroy sea mines.

Capable of overcoming the threat of modern mines, Archerfish has formed a key part of the U.S. Navy’s Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) programme since 2007. In addition to Archerfish mine neutralisers, manufactured at BAE Systems’ Broad Oak facility in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, the contract also includes the supply of fibre-optic spools.

The fibre-optic spools provide a communications link between the Archerfish mine neutraliser and the launch platform, an MH-60S helicopter deployed from the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships.

Developed by BAE Systems, Archerfish draws on the company’s expertise and extensive technology in torpedoes, naval mines and minehunting. The Archerfish neutraliser provides significant time and logistical advantages over current Remotely Operated Vehicle mine disposal systems.

Deliveries to the U.S. Navy will begin in September 2017. The contract also includes further options which, if exercised by the DoD, could bring the total value to over £39 million.

Les Gregory, Product & Training Services Director at BAE Systems, said: “We are delighted to provide the Department of Defense with Archerfish neutralisers, and to continue supporting the U.S. Navy’s work in clearing sea mines.

“This important contract demonstrates BAE Systems’ ability to deliver equipment that provides greater security and resilience to modern threats around the world, and we look forward to meeting the U.S. Navy’s demand for a first-class underwater defence capability for many years to come.”

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QinetiQ has announced that it has been awarded a £1m contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide a demonstration system to explore the integration of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into Royal Navy operations. The system includes displays, software and computing infrastructure and is to be fully transportable and capable of integrating unmanned systems from multiple suppliers. QinetiQ will be working with the Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic Capability (MHC) team in the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation.

The demonstrator will play a central role in the mine warfare themed aspects of Unmanned Warrior, the Royal Navy’s showcase of unmanned systems due to be held in October 2016. The activity will take place around the BUTEC facility in Scotland, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD under the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA)

After the Unmanned Warrior exercise, the command and control system will be operated by the Royal Navy’s Maritime Autonomous Systems Trials Team (MASTT) as part of their suite of systems under evaluation and trials.

The new project follows a £4.2m contract with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to deliver a similar command and control demonstration system for the co-ordination of multiple unmanned vehicles. It gives the MHC programme the means to fully understand the technology risks and performance boundaries for unmanned systems and to explore how to integrate equipment into an overall capability. As such, it complements work on the UK-French Maritime Mine Counter Measures programme and the UK Sweep capability demonstrator as the newest of the MHC demonstrators.

The objective of the overall programme is to minimise the number of bespoke screens and controls needed to conduct missions and improve efficiency through increased levels of system-to-system communication, minimising the risk of human error by reducing the burden on operators.

Both projects will be delivered by QinetiQ leading a team comprising BAE Systems, Thales, Seebyte and Atlas Elektronik UK.

The work is being led by QinetiQ’s Maritime Systems team, working as part of the QinetiQ Maritime Autonomy Centre (QMAC) in Portsmouth. QMAC was established to accelerate the UK’s adoption of autonomous systems by facilitating their design, development, testing and evaluation.

Sarah Kenny, Managing Director for QinetiQ’s Maritime, Land and Weapons business, said: “This contract is a real opportunity for the maritime defence enterprise to demonstrate successful transition of technology from the research domain to the end user. The project pulls together a number of separate research programmes and integrates these with existing equipment to fully enable RN MASTT planned activities at the same time as supporting the MHC Assessment Phase. QinetiQ is delighted that QMAC is already delivering value to the RN and I look forward to what promises to be an exciting future for this growing part of our business.”

Based on established mine countermeasures tools and components developed by a number of previously independent research activities, the solution fuses local and remote sensor data and is hosted on the Dstl Open Architecture Combat System (OACS). Integral mission planning and management applications enable operation of a range of vehicles from different suppliers, all from a single operator workstation.

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Saab, a defense and security company, has announced that it has presented its new remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Sea Wasp, at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland. Sea Wasp, which relocates, identifies and neutralizes underwater improvised explosive devices (IEDs), is designed to combat below-the-surface terrorism.

To produce the Sea Wasp, Saab leveraged technology from its Saab Seaeye line of commercial ROVs, and added capabilities previously developed for its military systems portfolio. The company then worked with the U.S. Underwater Hazardous Device Response Community to adopt it for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) purposes and procedures.

“Sea Wasp is a hybrid of pre-existing Saab technologies that can now be applied to an urgent worldwide need,” said Bert Johansson, Sales Director for Underwater Systems within Saab’s Dynamics business area. “Underwater EOD is a rapidly growing niche around the world, and Sea Wasp’s capabilities correspond to that niche.”

Today, most underwater IED threats are disposed of manually by trained EOD divers. Sea Wasp is operated remotely by two-person teams, allowing for a safe distance between operators and IEDs.

To test Sea Wasp, Saab has partnered with the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) in providing Sea Wasp prototypes to three EOD agencies: the U.S. Navy EOD Group 2, the FBI Counter-IED Unit, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Counter-Terrorist Operations Maritime Response Unit. All three agencies have received Sea Wasp training; testing and evaluation is being carried out over the next 10 to 12 months.

“The U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle market is very important for Saab,” said Jon Kaufmann, Vice President of Naval Programs with Saab North America. “Our goal with Sea Wasp is to meet U.S. national security needs with an underwater, anti-IED device that keeps EOD teams safe.”

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Defence and security company Saab has announced that it has received an order from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) for delivery of advanced anti-submarine warfare training, including the autonomous underwater vehicle AUV62 in training configuration.

As part of the Letter of Intent (LoI) between Saab and FMV, announced on June 9 2014, and which supports the Swedish Armed Forces’ underwater capabilities for the period 2015-2024, Saab has now received an order for the delivery of advanced anti-submarine warfare training. Included in the contract is the autonomous underwater vehicle AUV62-AT, configured for anti-submarine training, and the delivery of support and maintenance to the customer. Saab is also responsible for supporting the customer’s training activities during the entire contract period.

“For the Swedish Navy this order means that they will have an increased capability and flexibility to practice and train their units in anti-submarine warfare”, says Anne-Marie Vösu, head of Saab´s business unit Underwater Systems.

“Saab’s experience and expertise within autonomous underwater vehicles means that we can offer world-leading training opportunities for our customers in anti-submarine warfare”.

The AUV62-AT is an advanced and highly modern and capable system for cost-efficient training of a navy’s ASW forces. The AUV62-AT is an artificial acoustic target that mimics a submarine in a way that is compatible with any torpedo- and sonar system on the market today. The system fully replaces the use of a submarine in the role as a maneuvering training target.

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Corvus Energy, a developer of lithium ion energy storage systems, has announced that one of its systems has been incporporated into Boeing’s latest unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV), the Echo Voyager.

Boeing recently announced the addition of Echo Voyager to its fleet of UUVs developed by its research and development division, Phantom Works. Echo Voyager is the largest of the UUV family, joining the Echo Seeker and Echo Ranger. Echo Voyager is capable of operating autonomously at sea for months at a time due to its hybrid rechargeable power system supported by a lithium-ion energy storage solution from Corvus Energy.

Unlike typical UUVs such as the 18-foot Echo Ranger and 32-foot Echo Seeker, which can stay at sea for only a few days before being re-charged by a surface ship, the 51-foot Echo Voyager can explore the oceans for up to 6 months without returning to a support ship. This extreme capability is enabled, in part, by the Corvus-developed energy storage system (ESS). The ESS powers Echo Voyager for a few days before using an onboard diesel generator to recharge the batteries. Echo Voyager represents the second UUV project of which Corvus technology has been an integral part.

“Corvus is known largely for its product lines for merchant vessels, offshore vessels and port cranes. We have been an extremely proud contributor to Boeing’s UUV programs for several years now and are excited to be able to share this news with the industry” says Corvus President & CEO Andrew Morden. “This bespoke work highlights the capabilities and depth of our R&D teams and gives the market some insight into another interesting aspect of our business”.

Echo Voyager is due to shortly undergo sea trials. Future missions could include scientific, military or oil and gas exploration.

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SeeByte, a provider of smart software for unmanned maritime systems, and Tritech International Limited, a developer of imaging equipment for use in underwater applications, have announced that they have successfully integrated Tritech’s Gemini sonar onto SeeByte’s CoPilot software. The system was demonstrated on Heriot-Watt University’s Seaeye Falcon 1256 ROV in the university’s wave tank facilities.

CoPilot provides ROV pilots with a simple point-and-click tool to fly the ROV. It is already integrated into Heriot-Watt’s Falcon ROV, and can also be used to pilot other ROV systems. By integrating the Gemini, the ROV pilot can simply point on the sonar data and the ROV will automatically move to the required coordinates.

Scott McLay, Sales Director at Tritech, commented: “It was great to see the system in action; CoPilot is a very intuitive software package. The combination of the Gemini and CoPilot in one integrated system really allows end-users to get the most out of both the software and the sonar. This is another way in which we can add value to Tritech customers.”

CoPilot permits pilot-controlled auto-transit and stop-and-hover, whilst providing automated sonar tracking and movement relative to a target. CoPilot is easily retrofitted to any ROV system, but is also available from the factory with VideoRay, Seatronics and SMD.

Available as a commercial off the shelf product, the Gemini 720is sonar provides enhanced real-time target tracking capabilities to users through SeeByte’s advanced tracking analytics.

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iXblue, a developer of navigation, positioning and imaging solutions, has announced the launch of the company’s new range of Phins Compact inertial navigation systems, based on iXblue’s silent true solid state Fiber-Optic Gyroscope technology. With the Phins C3, C5 & C7 range, iXblue is now providing fully scalable systems that cover all inertial navigation needs for any size of AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle).

The iXblue’s Phins Compact Family has been designed to offer the AUV industry players the ability to choose an inertial navigation system adapted to their vehicle, whatever their size and mission, from accurate navigation to survey grade. The Phins C3, C5 and C7 are fully scalable systems with a similar architecture and interface. Available as an OEM version, the three products all include the same algorithm and software, which enables seamless re-use of the control system on any vehicles’ sizes or types, via modern interfaces such as Ethernet, helping to reduce integration and non-recurring costs.

Based on iXblue’s IMU 50, Phins C3 is a brand-new inertial system designed for man portable AUVs, with a small and light structure, mostly for shallow water applications. Currently being assessed by several AUV manufacturers, the system has proven efficient, reliable and secure. The Phins C5 (ex Rovins 154, IMU 90-based) has already been utilised by many customers around the world who have been operating the system for their current applications. On the basis of the well-established Phins Surface INS, Phins C7 (IMU 120) has been optimized for a better AUV integration: now smaller and more practical, the system also includes an upgraded connector solution.

The Phins Compact Family benefits from the performance of the Fiber-Optic Gyroscope Technology: the silent-true, low consumption, solid-state and strap-down inertial systems enable stealth autonomous navigation, providing very accurate heading, roll, pitch, speed and position. The systems feature a MTBF of up to 100,000 hours and have no need for preventive maintenance. Phins C3, C5 & C7 are ITAR-free, dual-use systems and are all compatible with DELPH INS post-processing software to achieve high survey accuracy.

Paul Wysocki, iXblue Inertial Product Manager, commented: “Working in iXblue for 15 years now, I can remember the first AUV which were equipped by the Group. Offering a full range of INS for all AUV existing types represents a great achievement for the company today. Thanks to our trusted expertise, our passion for innovation, driven by our customers’ needs, we are happy to provide both the military & offshore markets saving-cost INS adapted to their AUV requirements.”

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2G Robotics, a developer of underwater laser scanning equipment, has announced that subsea technology company Sonardyne International Ltd has used its laser scanner to dynamically map the seabed in Monterey Bay, California. This high resolution deep water mapping of Sur Ridge was performed using 2G Robotics’ ULS-500 underwater laser scanner mounted to an ROV.

For the survey, the ROV was equipped and navigated using Sonardyne’s inertial navigation sensor, SPRINT, interfaced with a Syrinx 600 kHz DVL, ROVNav 6 LBL transceiver and a precision pressure sensor. EIVA’s hydrographic survey and navigation software was integrated with the ULS-500 using EIVA’s dedicated driver for 2G Robotics’ systems to facilitate with data capturing and post-processing.

Sonardyne noted that laser mobile mapping is dramatically faster than static scanning, enabling wide areas to be covered quickly and efficiently whilst capturing extremely high resolution 3D models of the seabed.

2G Robotics founder and CEO, Jason Gillham noted: “We have been performing subsea vehicle integrations and providing dynamic scanning support since 2012. We have completed numerous AUV, survey class ROV, and work class ROV installations on customer-owned vehicles worldwide. Our ULS-500 system has been specifically developed for dynamic scanning with a focus on high sample rates, timing synchronization, and continuous data acquisition for faster, more efficient inspections.”

Underwater laser scanning is an emerging technology that continues to provide accuracy, precision, and cost efficiency improvements for subsea surveys and inspections. 2G Robotics’ underwater laser scanners generate true-scale, high-resolution 3D models in real-time of underwater structures, organisms, and environments. The high point density of 2G Robotics’ data effectively resolves fine-scale dimensional features that acoustic and photographic methods fail to capture, allowing for a more detailed understanding and measure of structural and environmental complexity.

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Sonardyne Asia Pte. Ltd. has supplied underwater communications equipment to the Korean Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO). The equipment enables video to be transmitted through the water and unmanned vehicles to be controlled without a tethered link to the surface.

The BlueComm 100-series optical modems will be used to stream high-definition imagery from cameras installed on seafloor sensor platforms and command ‘Crabster,’ an autonomous walking and flying crab-like robot being developed by KRISO’s ocean systems engineering department.

Transferring data using subsea modems provides a reliable alternative to using cables underwater, which can be expensive to install and vulnerable to damage. However, unlike conventional acoustic-based devices that use pressure waves to send and receive relatively small packets of data at low bandwidths, Sonardyne’s BlueComm uses rapidly modulated light emitting diodes (LEDs) and high power lasers to quickly deliver very high volumes of data.

Typically operating in the 450 nanometer Blue Light region of the spectrum, data rates of up to 500 megabits per second are achievable making the technology suitable for a wide range of underwater applications that require a high bandwidth, low latency, bi-directional communications link. These include harvesting data from seabed landers using AUVs, remote video monitoring of science operations and piloting unmanned vehicles without the need for a control umbilical.

When deploying battery-powered subsea instruments and vehicles, operating life is always a major consideration for users. BlueComm’s method of optical data transmission is highly efficient, enabling for example, one gigabyte of data to be transmitted with the energy contained within a single lithium ‘D’ sized cell over distances greater than 150 metres.

The BlueComm modem family is currently made up of three variants and to support its work, KRISO has selected the BlueComm 100 model. Featuring Ethernet connectivity and a deep depth rating, the design is optimised to offer a good balance between data rate and range in all conditions, including high ambient light.

Commenting on the contract, Anthony Gleeson, Vice President of Sonardyne in Singapore said, “Now that it’s possible to send and receive data underwater at speeds comparable to domestic broadband, it’s exciting to consider the huge range of potential applications for BlueComm.” He added, “KRISO are the first institute in our region to invest in BlueComm and we are delighted that this unique technology will help to advance their pioneering ocean research.”

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General Motors has announced that it is cooperating with the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to incorporate automotive hydrogen fuel cell systems into the next generation of Navy unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).

Hydrogen fuel cells convert high-energy hydrogen efficiently into electricity, resulting in vehicles with greater range and endurance than those powered with batteries. Under the ONR’s Innovative Naval Prototype program for Large Displacement UUVs, energy is a core technology in the Navy’s goals for vehicles with more than 60 days endurance.

The Naval Research Laboratory recently concluded an evaluation of a prototype UUV equipped with a GM fuel cell at the heart of the vehicle powertrain. The tests, a key step in the development of an at-sea prototype, were conducted in pools at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Carderock, Md.

“Our in-water experiments with an integrated prototype show that fuel cells can be game changers for autonomous underwater systems,” said Frank Herr, ONR’s department head for Ocean Battlespace Sensing. “Reliability, high energy, and cost effectiveness — all brought to us via GM’s partnering — are particularly important as Navy looks to use UUVs as force multipliers.”

Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology helps address two major automotive environmental challenges: petroleum use and carbon dioxide emissions. Fuel cell vehicles can operate on renewable hydrogen from sources like wind and biomass stored for later use. Once converted to electricity, water vapor is the only emission. Recharging takes only minutes.

GM’s fuel cells are compact and lightweight, and have high reliability and performance. Lower cost is achievable through volume production. These attributes match the goals of the Navy to develop reliable, affordable systems.

“The collaboration with the Navy leveraged what we learned in amassing more than 3 million miles of real-world experience with our Project Driveway fuel cell program,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Activities. “Our customers will benefit from additional lessons we learn about the performance of fuel cells in non-automotive applications that will be useful in GM’s drive to offer fuel cells across consumer markets.”

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MARE Beagle ROV

Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization, and Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE) have announced that they have released findings from their expedition to explore the living seafloor off Southern California. After five days at sea documenting the deep ocean within and outside of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Oceana and MARE returned with images, videos and new discoveries that clearly illustrate the importance of seafloor structures — including corals, sponges, rocky reefs, and seamounts — to the survival and recovery of important fish species.

“The oceans are the lifeblood of the planet,” explained Alexandra Cousteau, Senior Advisor for Oceana, who participated in the expedition. “Living structures on the ocean floor, like corals and sponges, provide nurseries, food and shelter essential for the survival and productivity of important commercial and sportfish species, like rockfish and lingcod. The waters surrounding the islands and offshore banks of Southern California contain prime examples of these spectacular habitats.”

MARE’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), outfitted with a suite of underwater cameras, filmed areas of the seafloor that have never been seen before. Oceana and MARE completed 13 dives and launched the ROV to depths ranging from 80 meters (263 feet) to 435 meters (1,427 feet). The dive locations ranged from 3 to 75 miles offshore and provided the first glimpses of areas that have only been mapped in the last few months.

“You can’t fully understand what lives on the seafloor unless you go down and look,” said Dirk Rosen, Founder and Executive Director of MARE. “Together with Oceana, we discovered new areas of underwater wilderness containing deep sea coral gardens, which provide essential habitat structure for fish and invertebrates. The seafloor is more than just a colorful world, it is a living ecosystem. MARE was thrilled to have deployed our ROV Beagle in support of Oceana’s mission to protect these vulnerable ecosystems.”

The Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service, which are responsible for managing fisheries in federal waters off the U.S. West Coast, are currently reviewing important habitat protections. As part of that process, Oceana has submitted a comprehensive conservation proposal designed to protect sensitive ocean habitats from bottom trawling, including a precautionary closure to prevent the expansion of this fishing gear into deeper waters off Southern California. Bottom trawlers drag heavy trawl doors and footropes along the ocean floor to capture fish that live on and around the seafloor. In doing so, the gear can crush and topple delicate living habitats, like corals and sponges, which grow only millimeters a year.

“On this research expedition, we found evidence of a globally significant and largely pristine network of coral gardens, sponge beds and other fragile habitats,” reported Geoff Shester, California Campaign Director for Oceana. “We are only just beginning to unlock this region’s many undersea mysteries. A precautionary approach to protecting Southern California’s offshore waters from the effects of bottom trawling, at least until we have a chance to learn more about them, will benefit of our seafood supply, ocean health, and future generations.”

A complete description of the expedition findings is available here.

Underwater video can be accessed here and photographs can be viewed here.

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The Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) has announced that it has completed a month of rigorous testing of its new Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) SuBastian in the open ocean off the island of Guam in the western Pacific. The testing and integration of the new ROV was carried out from aboard SOI’s 272 foot oceanographic research vessel Falkor.

The 25-day testing placed ROV SuBastian in real-world conditions, demonstrating its functionality as a modern research tool with innovative systems. The ROV tests and trials included 22 dives and more than 100 hours underwater. Now that the vehicle has been tested, the team is working on making tweaks and improvements so that SuBastian is ready for its first research cruise later this year, visiting the Mariana Back-Arc in Guam. The 4K high-resolution video footage collected with SuBastian will be openly shared with scientists and interested public around the world.

Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Ocean Institute, has watched SuBastian go from concept to a full-functioning vehicle. “I am very proud of what our team has been able to accomplish in the past year. With ROV SuBastian, we will help make life on the ocean floor real to people who will never visit the sea, so they, too, can begin to appreciate the importance of ocean health and make the connection between life in the deep sea and life on land. You don’t have to be a scientist at sea to recognize the importance of the marine environment, and we are only at the beginning of our understanding. We never anticipated discovering the world’s deepest living fish, the ghostfish, back in 2014, and are excited about the life we will discover next.”

The ROV is connected to an umbilical tether that powers and transfers data for live video telepresence operations, resulting in SuBastian’s ability to potentially stay submerged and explore for multiple days at a time. This is the first submersible vehicle that SOI, founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, has designed and built. ROV SuBastian was built to meet the needs of scientists aboard Falkor, while considering the well-being of the entire marine environment. The ROV is designed to go to depths of 4,500 meters (2.8 miles), and will be suitable to support high resolution seafloor mapping, photomosaicing, video and image gathering, and collections of rocks, animals, and seawater samples. SuBastain is equipped with a versatile array of power and data interfaces to enable integration of a wide range of add-on deep sea instruments and samplers that oceanographers may need to support their deep sea research.

Schmidt Ocean Institute provides collaborating researchers and scientist’s free access to research vessel Falkor, as well as expert technical support in exchange for a commitment to openly share and communicate the outcomes of research, including the raw observations and data. With many ROV research cruises foreseen through at least 2018, there certainly will be lots to learn with SuBastian.

Data collected using SuBastian will be openly shared with the public and interested researchers. “This is just the start of SuBastian’s life,” said ROV Project Manager David Wotherspoon, “The team is incredibly focused and ready to put SuBastian to use. SuBastian will now be used by scientists to investigate the deep sea, acting as eyes, ears and hands miles beneath the ocean surface.”

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ECA Group has announced that, along with its partners DCNS and Thales, it has successfully completed the Espadon demonstration program for the French Ministry of Defence’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA). The program enabled ECA Group to develop the launch and recovery of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from an unmanned surface vessel (USV).

The Espadon program is a component of the French MoD’s overarching Système de Lutte Anti-Mines Futur (SLAMF) future mine countermeasures program. The aim of the program was to prove that robotic systems could be used for underwater counter-mine warfare operations instead of conventional minehunters, with the goal being to avoid exposing minehunter crews to considerable danger due to the fact that these vessels operate in known mine fields.

For the program, ECA Group was in charge of all the robotics components of the system. In particular, ECA produced the long endurance A27 AUVs, the A18-T inpection AUV, the Sterenn-Du USV remote control system and the AUV launch and recovery system.

As part of the testing, both the A27 and A18-T AUV were deployed by the Sterenn-Du, demonstrating that it was possible for USVs to deploy AUVs for full-scale mine countermeasure operations and paving the way for a robotics-based new generation of mine countermeasure systems that some navies have already decided to use.

ECA Group has already had some success in providing such solutions to customers. Having developed all the necessary sub-systems (INSPECTOR USV, A9, A18, A27 AUV’s, K-STER mine-killer), ECA Group can easily combine them in order to provide tailor-made and modular solutions that can be adapted to each customer requirement while optimizing the through-life costs (e.g. spares and training) by the use of common building blocks.

As a direct result of the program, the A27 AUV has also been selected for the Anglo-French Maritime Mine Counter Measure (MMCM) program. In addition, the Espadon program has enabled ECA to develop a solution that has proved to be of interest to the offshore community, allowing the recovery of AUVs in high sea states with the use of a sub-sea cage and docking system.

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General Dynamics has announced that its Bluefin-21 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) successfully launched multiple Bluefin SandShark micro-autonomous underwater vehicles (M-AUV) as part of several capability demonstrations at the U.S. Navy sponsored 2016 Annual Naval Technology Exercises (ANTX) in Newport, R.I.

Through several ANTX demonstrations, the Bluefin SandShark M-AUVs surfaced and functioned independent of the heavyweight-class Bluefin-21. In one mission scenario, the Bluefin-21 simulated data collection and transfer of target imagery and other information to two Bluefin SandSharks. Those Bluefin SandSharks then surfaced to communicate with a Blackwing unmanned aerial vehicle. The Blackwing relayed the information back to a submarine combat control system ashore for decision-making authority and subsequent command of Bluefin SandShark M-AUVs.

In a separate demonstration during the ANTX exercise, the Bluefin-21 hosted acoustic sensors from industry and academia.

“Our successful ANTX demonstrations showed that unmanned vehicles can deliver capabilities across the undersea and air operating domains. This system of systems approach leverages Bluefin-21’s larger payload delivery, longer endurance and superior navigation capabilities to deliver smaller payloads such as autonomous underwater vehicles or unmanned aerial vehicles and sensors, providing the Navy with additional mission capabilities,” said Tracy Howard, a senior manager for Autonomous Undersea Vehicles for General Dynamics Mission Systems.

The Bluefin-21 AUV is modular and designed with the flexibility to carry and launch a variety of AUVs in configurations that include M-AUVS, larger AUVs, and unmanned aerial vehicles. A Bluefin-21 can be reconfigured for multiple missions with varying payloads including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and communications nodes to expand maritime network communications. For example, the Bluefin-21 AUV is the base vehicle for the Navy’s Knifefish program, a surface mine countermeasure unmanned underwater vehicle.

The Bluefin SandShark M-AUV weighs approximately 15 pounds without sensors and its potential missions include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, sea-floor mapping and imaging.

Sponsored by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division, 2016 ANTX is a forum for industry to join with academia and Navy laboratories to demonstrate new technologies that will accelerate technology from development, to in-water testing, to fielding the new capabilities for the Navy’s fleet. The theme for this year’s exercise was Cross-Domain Communications, Command, and Control and took place at the Navy’s Narragansett Bay Test facility in Newport, R.I.

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ECA Group has announced the delivery of several fully robotic underwater mine counter-measure systems to two navies, including that of Kazakhstan. The systems allow customers to deploy vehicles that will protect crews, keeping them outside the minefield. Until recently, detection sonar of such systems was located on the minehunter, which required entering of the threat area and being exposed to a risk of explosion. Thanks to a system based entirely on specialized robots, mines are now detected using high resolution sonar fitted either on autonomous underwater vehicles or on surface drones, thus avoiding the need for the mother ship to approach the mines.

Once the sonar has detected potential mines, an inspection robot such as the SEASCAN MK2 is used to confirm via video images that the object is indeed a mine, and a disposal vehicle such as the K-STER C is then dispatched to destroy the mine. These robots can be launched either from the mother ship or remotely deployed from a surface drone, thereby keeping the mother ship at a safer distance from the mines.

For several years, ECA Group has been developing a comprehensive range of underwater robots, including AUVs, mine killers, ROVs and USVs/surface drones. Used together on a single vessel, these different robots can perform full mine counter-missions, as well as hydrography, surveillance, and research & assistance missions, through their sequential and/or simultaneous deployment.

To manage the mission of various robots on the vessel, ECA Group has over recent years developed an Unmanned MCM Information System (UMIS) enabling the vessel to plan and conduct mine counter missions safely and effectively through the optimal operation of the various robots, and to incorporate the information collected into the naval customer’s centralized management system.

Thanks to ECA Group’s wide range of robots, there is considerable flexibility to adapt the systems offered depending on the customer’s operational requirements and budget: minimal configurations make it possible to carry mine counter solutions on smaller vessels (<30m), in particular where the requirement is limited to coastal mine counter measures. For planned mine counter activity requiring rapid mine disposal, e.g. for amphibious operations, the configuration may incorporate several USVs and AUVs, as well as one or two dozen mine killers on the same mine countermeasures vessel.

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Fathom, an underwater drone technology startup, has announced that its Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for its Fathom One underwater drone has raised over $178K, putting them at nearly $30K over their original funding goal. The Fathom One was designed to be easy to use, highly portable and fully modular.

Fathom ensures a simple user experience so that anyone can pilot the Fathom One drone. The drone is connected to a provided Wi-Fi buoy, which is then wirelessly linked to using the Fathom app on any smart device. All three of the drone’s thrusters clip on and off, allowing the user to easily customize, upgrade or travel with their device. The Fathom also includes integrated rail systems for further customization.

“Ease of use is something we obsess over at Fathom. You can build the most capable product in the world, but unless everyone can easily pick it up and use it, it’s not worth much in our eyes,” said lead designer John Boss. “With our design, we promise you’ll be able to become a pro at piloting the Fathom One the first time you take it out.”

The Fathom One can run up to one hour on a single charge and reach speeds of up to 3 knots. Each drone also comes equipped with an HD 1080p onboard camera, 100 feet of tether that attaches to a custom floating buoy and built-in 3W LEDs for clear viewing, even at depths of 150 feet or at night. Users can also share what they see by recording and uploading their underwater footage to social media using the Fathom app. Additionally, the Fathom One’s integrated rail system allows individuals to attach action cameras, extra lights and additional sensors.

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General Dynamics Mission Systems has announced that it has featured the Bluefin Robotics hovering-autonomous underwater vehicle (H-AUV) at the OCEANS 2016 conference in Monterey, California. The Bluefin Robotics H-AUV locates, identifies and maps structural issues on a ship’s hull including large ocean going cargo ships, petroleum and chemical tankers, cruise ships and military surface and sub-surface vessels without dry-docking the ship.

“Inspecting ship hulls and other underwater surfaces can be a manpower- and cost-intensive part of a ship’s observation and maintenance,” said Matt Graziano, director of Autonomous Undersea Systems for General Dynamics Mission Systems. “This H-AUV also reduces the risk to divers when inspecting potential threats attached to a ship’s hull or other structure.”

The Bluefin Robotics H-AUV operates autonomously and navigates along a hull, bridges or piers. High-resolution images are streamed, recorded and stored by the H-AUV for shipboard or shore-based operators to observe in real time, or study once the scan is complete. The H-AUV can also conduct undersea observation for port and harbor security, underwater law enforcement investigations, archeological and academic research.

General Dynamics Mission Systems develops, builds and operates a portfolio of Bluefin Robotics Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and related technologies for defense, commercial and academic customers worldwide.

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Diakont, a provider of services and tooling to the nuclear industry, has announced that it has begun to perform underwater cleaning and decontamination of reactor refueling cavities while flooded, using advanced robotic tooling. Historically, plant operators completed cleaning and decontamination of these surfaces manually during refueling outages. However, this method is a slow and less effective process that can result in excessive personnel dose exposure.

Using highly maneuverable robots that rely on thrusters to swim when navigating to difficult-to-reach locations, Diakont’s robotic cleaning and decontamination services deliver considerably safer and more efficient results that can reduce both personnel dose exposure and critical path schedule duration.

The key functional element of the Diakont cleaning tool is a hybrid crawler-ROV tool, remotely operated by a small team of Diakont field technicians from a control station on the perimeter of the refueling floor. Only a single technician is required at the side of the cavity, to belay the umbilical. The tool transitions during operation between ROV “flying” mode and cleaning “crawler” mode, for maximal deployment flexibility and bridge-free operation.

The cleaning tool attaches and drives along the cavity and component surfaces using a high-force, no-flow vortex generator, even in the presence of RHR or shutdown cooling flow. Detritus is vacuumed away at high flow rates to a submerged filter.

“With our underwater cleaning and decontamination service offerings, we’ve introduced game-changing robotic technology to the way this task has traditionally been handled by plant operators,” says Jacco Goemans, Director of Nuclear Solutions for Diakont. “By eliminating the need to send personnel into the cavity to perform these tasks by hand, Diakont’s service provides a low-risk solution for decontaminating the reactor cavities, resulting in a reduction in personnel dose exposure, and in some cases shortening critical path outage durations.”

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