Geo-data specialist Fugro and SEA-KIT, a provider of hi-tech technologies to maritime and research industries, will collaborate to develop a new range of agile and compact uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) capable of deploying ROVs and AUVs for marine asset inspections.
Fugro says that the USVs are being developed alongside its range of USVs for hydrographic data acquisition. The first USVs are expected to be launched before the end of 2020, and a larger USV model is being designed for delivery in 2021.
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Sonardyne International unveils new products for unmanned maritime vehicles
Sonardyne International Ltd. has unveiled several new additions to its 2020 product line-up. The underwater technology provider says that the products are all designed to play a role in delivering users’ data from the seabed to the shore.
The first item that Sonardyne has unveiled is its SPRINT-Nav Mini, which the company describes as the “most compact guidance and control solution in the market.”
iXblue, ThayerMahan partner to provide unmanned maritime and survey services
Through their new partnership, maritime technology company ThayerMahan Inc. and global high-tech company iXblue will use iXblue’s DriX USV to provide unmanned maritime and survey services in North America, as well as in other parts of the world.
The companies will leverage their respective strengths to address a wide range of maritime and survey applications including, but not limited to, Oil & Gas, ISR, and monitoring and tracking operations. ThayerMahan has a “far-reaching expertise” in maritime domain awareness, while iXblue’s USV is multi-purpose and cost-effective.
COLREGs update, testing and public acceptance key to boosting unmanned maritime systems
For unmanned maritime systems (UMS) to reach their full potential, COLREGs, the set of regulations that provide the “rules of the road” for vessels to prevent collisions, need to be updated to include the innovative waterborne technologies.
“COLREGs for us is really the biggest issue. We need to have UMS put into COLREGs,” said Mike Smitsky, AUVSI’s senior manager of advocacy and government relations who manages and staffs the AUVSI UMS Advocacy Committee.
PEO USC grants Milestone C approval to the Unmanned Influence Sweep System program
The Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) has been cleared for low-rate initial production (LRIP) following the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) granting Milestone C approval to the UISS program.
The Navy plans to exercise options for the procurement of three LRIP systems on the current Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract with Textron Systems, the UISS prime contractor.
Spatial Integrated Systems to demonstrate autonomous USV to examine feasibility of improving Maritime Domain Awareness
After being awarded a contract with the US Coast Guard (USCG), Spatial Integrated Systems Inc. (SIS) will demonstrate an autonomous USV to examine the feasibility of improving Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the remote Pacific Ocean.
Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, SIS has partnered with MetalCraft Marine U.S. and Honolulu, Hawaii’s Navatek, resulting in the combination of the SIS Multi-Agent Robotic Teams (SMART) Autonomy System and the MetalCraft 7m Interceptor Boat for commercial sale as an “intelligent, goal-oriented” autonomous USV.
Peraton wins spot on contract to support U.S. Navy's Unmanned Surface Vehicle Family of Systems
Unmanned maritime systems contractor Peraton has announced that it has won a spot on an up to 10-year, $982.1 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract (IDIQ-MAC) to support the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Surface Vehicle Family of Systems.
Just last month, Peraton announced that it recently received four U.S. Navy Unmanned Maritime Systems Support (UMSS) task orders valued at $27.45M.
Peraton's work with the U.S. Navy on unmanned maritime systems dates back to 2001 when it first supported the Navy's program management office responsible for explosive ordinance disposal.
Royal Australian Navy, Defence Science and Technology Group showcase AUVs during Summerfest event
During the inaugural ‘Summerfest’ event at HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay in Dec. 2019, the Royal Australian Navy and the Defence Science and Technology Group showcased new capability in the use of AUVs.
During the event, 32 AUV experts from Navy, Defence Science and Technology (DST), industry and academia came together to share knowledge and potential answers to common challenges in the growing AUV environment.
Navy engineers also had the opportunity to mark the progress made in AUV applied research and operations throughout 2019.
XOCEAN's XO-450 USV conducts seabed surveys for Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm
Considered a first for the offshore wind sector, XOCEAN’s XO-450 USV recently conducted seabed surveys on seven of the turbines at the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables and innogy.
To validate data collection before the vessel departed the work locations, experts located in the United Kingdom monitored the data collected from shore in real-time throughout the survey.
According to XOCEAN, the survey demonstrates the “highly flexible and collaborative nature” of this technology, which ultimately allows industry experts to have direct access to real time data, from any location.
