A new era for autonomous sub-bottom profiling

The Exeter UK-based company is one of twelve UK innovators awarded funding support through the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership’s Development Funding Programme (OWGP).

“We’re delighted to be working with the expert teams at GeoAcoustics and Tellus to begin this important development project,” said David Hull, founder & CEO of HydroSurv.

“USV technology has the potential to be highly impactful for high-resolution subsurface imaging, and by developing the capability around the REAV-45 we can significantly increase the vessel’s utility.”

Next-gen profiling

High-resolution geophysical data is essential for offshore wind planning, helping identify sediment structures and geohazards such as shallow gas, faults, boulders and UXO.

The new funding will accelerate a next-generation 3D sub-bottom profiling (SBP) solution engineered specifically for uncrewed operations, giving developers clearer, more efficient ways to map the shallow sub-seafloor.

Delivered with GeoAcoustics and Tellus Geoconsulting and supported by strategic guidance from Ocean Winds, the programme centres on a multi-frequency sonar architecture based on the GeoPulse 2 platform.

A novel hydrophone configuration and tailored deployment system will capture 3D volumetric datasets with improved lateral resolution, enhancing identification of buried features vital to offshore wind foundation design and cable route planning.

The SBP system will integrate with HydroSurv’s REAV-45 battery-hybrid autonomous vessel, aligned with the new MGN 705 (M) MiniMASS Code. Field trials are scheduled for October 2026.

HydroSurv is upping the ante in terms of subsea uncrewed vessel operations.

Back in September, Nordic USV A/S announced it was expanding its fleet with two new HydroSurv REAV-47 hybrid USVs