Hydroid to upgrade Royal Navy AUVs

Integrated upgrades for all vehicles consist of BlueView Technologies’ 3D MicroBathymetry systems together with a GeoAcoustics’ GeoSwath interferometric sonar. The vehicles are also to be fitted with modular endcaps and digital ultra-short baseline (USBL) acoustic positioning systems, with some also being equipped with inertial navigation units.

Hydroid says the BlueView systems will provide full high resolution 2D and 3D imagery in regions directly below vehicles, areas that have hitherto often necessitated overlapping passes for definitive completion of surveys. At the same time the GeoSwath sonars, which accurately measure depths at precise locations on seafloors using exactly spaced phase differencing transducer elements, will permit unprecedented rapid coverage in shallow waters.

Over 200 REMUS AUVs are reported to be operational globally, enabling Hydroid to claim a world leadership for this type of underwater vehicle. Apart from hydrographic and mine detection operations, applications also include those for harbour security operations, debris field mapping, scientific sampling and mapping in addition to basic and applied research programs.