Exail conducts first USV sea trials

DriX O-16 is the latest addition to Exail’s USV range, and was designed for long-duration operations of up to 30 days.

It can be autonomous for 3,500nm, using multiple payloads and other subsea assets and is larger than its previous vessel – being twice the length and five times the displacement.

Because of its size it can carry Multibeam Echsounders, Sub-Bottom Profilers, acoustic subsea positioning and communications systems and a launch and recovery system to deploy remotely operated towed vehicles, inspection-class ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

“The new transoceanic USV is particularly suited for full ocean depth scientific and hydrographic surveys. geophysical and UXO surveys and subsea infrastructure inspections, which may require the deployment of multiple robots,” says Exail, which was formed in 2022 with a merger of ECA Group and iXblue.

The vessel was put to sea off the port of La Ciotat, in the South of France.