Articles tagged with "autonomous-underwater-vehicle"
Robot survives months in never-seen Antarctic cavity, finds heat beneath glaciers
A robotic Argo float has successfully completed a groundbreaking 300-kilometre journey beneath East Antarctica’s Denman and Shackleton ice shelves, drifting for two-and-a-half years in one of the planet’s most inaccessible regions. Equipped with temperature and salinity sensors, the autonomous probe collected nearly 200 ocean profiles from the seafloor to the ice base, including an unprecedented eight-month period beneath the ice where it lost satellite communication. Scientists reconstructed its path by matching ice-draft measurements recorded by the float with satellite data, enabling the first-ever ocean transect beneath an East Antarctic ice shelf. The data revealed contrasting conditions under the two ice shelves: Shackleton appears relatively stable with no warm water detected, while Denman Glacier—capable of raising global sea levels by 1.5 meters—is already influenced by warm water that could accelerate melting and trigger unstable retreat. The float’s ability to measure the critical 10-meter boundary layer beneath the ice shelf, which controls melt rates, provides valuable
roboticsautonomous-underwater-vehicleAntarctic-explorationoceanographyclimate-scienceice-shelf-monitoringenvironmental-sensorsShark-shaped submarine robot to guard 800,000 miles of subsea cables
A German defense technology company, Euroatlas, has developed an autonomous underwater robot named Greyshark to patrol, map, and protect the global subsea cable network, which spans approximately 800,000 miles and carries over 95% of global internet traffic and $10 trillion in daily financial transactions. Designed for long-duration reconnaissance and surveillance in both coastal and deep-water environments, the shark-shaped robot operates autonomously using advanced sensors and AI-driven mission capabilities. It can work collaboratively with other Greyshark units, communicating securely underwater, remaining dormant on the seabed until detecting unusual activity near critical infrastructure, such as suspicious vessels. The introduction of Greyshark comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and increased incidents of subsea cable damage, particularly in regions like the Baltic Sea. NATO has responded with initiatives like Baltic Sentry to enhance surveillance and protection of these vital cables, including increased patrols and actions against vessels suspected of tampering. Euroatlas highlights Greyshark’s ability to map cable routes, detect anomalies
robotautonomous-underwater-vehiclesubsea-cablessurveillanceAI-driven-missionunderwater-communicationinfrastructure-protectionWorld-first: Quantum optical atomic clock deployed on unmanned sub
The article reports the successful world-first deployment of Infleqtion’s Tiqker quantum optical atomic clock on the Royal Navy’s unmanned testbed submarine, Excalibur (XCal). This trial demonstrated the clock’s ability to operate reliably through multiple dives, providing highly precise timing critical for resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in GPS-denied underwater environments. By integrating a compact optical clock with laboratory-grade performance directly onboard, the Tiqker offers a stable “time heartbeat” that reduces navigation drift, enabling submarines to remain submerged, accurate, and covert for longer periods. This deployment aboard the Excalibur, an extra-large uncrewed autonomous vehicle (XLUAV), marks a significant advancement in autonomous underwater operations and reflects the Royal Navy’s trust in Infleqtion as a quantum technology partner. The Tiqker clock also enhances other submarine systems such as sonar, fire control, and secure communications, improving overall mission performance. Given that submarines cannot rely
robotautonomous-underwater-vehiclequantum-optical-atomic-clocknavigationprecision-timingsubmarine-technologydefense-technologyIn a first, autonomous robotic submarine to circumnavigate the globe
The article reports on the upcoming mission of Redwing, an autonomous underwater robotic glider designed to circumnavigate the globe, marking the first time an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will complete such a journey. Developed by Teledyne Marine and Rutgers University as part of the Sentinel Mission, Redwing will launch from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and follow a route similar to Ferdinand Magellan’s historic circumnavigation, covering approximately 73,000 kilometers with stops at key global locations such as Gran Canaria, Cape Town, Western Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, and potentially Brazil before returning to Cape Cod. The mission is supported by organizations including NOAA, the UN Ocean Decade, and the Marine Technology Society. Redwing is a next-generation Slocum Sentinel Glider, notable for its ultra-long endurance, capable of over a year of persistent ocean monitoring. It can operate at depths up to 1,000 meters and is equipped with enhanced battery capacity and space for up
robotautonomous-underwater-vehicleoceanographic-technologymarine-researchunderwater-gliderenergy-endurancesensors-integrationGhost Shark: Australia to field monster stealth drone subs in 2026
Australia is set to deploy the Ghost Shark, a large stealthy autonomous underwater drone, by January 2026, following a AUS$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) contract with defense technology company Anduril. Co-developed in just three years through a joint $50 million investment by Anduril and the Australian government, the Ghost Shark XL-AUV is designed for long-range, stealth missions including surveillance, reconnaissance, strike operations, and coastal defense. The drones will complement Australia’s future surface combatants and nuclear submarines under the AUKUS pact, featuring an all-electric powertrain and AI-powered domain awareness. They can be launched from shore, ships, or airlifted by large aircraft, with modular payloads developed through Australian R&D to adapt to evolving threats. The rapid development and procurement of the Ghost Shark program contrast sharply with the U.S. Navy’s Boeing Orca XLUUV program, which has faced delays and budget overruns over nearly a decade
robotautonomous-underwater-vehiclestealth-dronedefense-technologyartificial-intelligenceelectric-powertrainmilitary-roboticsUK submarine drone controlled from Australia over 10,000 miles away
The UK Royal Navy has successfully demonstrated remote operation of its new Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), named Excalibur, from over 10,000 miles away in Australia while the drone was submerged at its home base in Plymouth, UK. This milestone was achieved during Exercise Talisman Sabre in July, as part of the AUKUS security partnership involving the US, UK, and Australia. The trial showcased the interoperability of XLUUVs between the UK and Australia and was conducted under the AUKUS Pillar II “Maritime Big Play” initiative, which aims to advance the collective use of robotics and autonomous systems at sea. Japan also participated by helping improve underwater acoustic communications. Excalibur, unveiled in May and built by Plymouth-based MSubs through the three-year Project Cetus, is the Royal Navy’s largest uncrewed underwater platform, measuring 39 feet long and capable of diving deeper than manned submarines. It is designed primarily
robotautonomous-underwater-vehiclesubmarine-dronemilitary-roboticsremote-operationmaritime-technologyAUKUSUS Navy plans stealth robot submarine to deliver underwater firepower
The US Navy is advancing its autonomous undersea warfare capabilities through the Ocean Explorer (OEX) Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) program, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The OEX aims to develop a next-generation, ultra-large autonomous submarine capable of long-endurance, ocean-scale missions with modular payload flexibility. Industry proposals are being solicited to design and prototype this robotic submarine, focusing on technical feasibility, mission adaptability, and integration into distributed maritime operations. The initiative emphasizes establishing logistics and support infrastructure for potential squadron-level deployments, with submissions due by October 2025. This effort complements other ongoing US undersea autonomy programs, including the Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) and the Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) programs. The LDUUV focuses on modular, long-endurance systems for surveillance and payload delivery, involving companies like Kongsberg and Anduril. Meanwhile, Boeing
robotautonomous-underwater-vehicleunmanned-submarinemilitary-roboticsnaval-technologyunderwater-dronedefense-technologyBedrock Ocean dredges up $25M to map the seafloor with robots
Bedrock Ocean, a startup focused on seafloor mapping, recently raised $25 million in a Series A-2 funding round led by Primary and Northzone, with participation from several other investors. The company has developed autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that can operate independently for up to 12 hours using lithium-ion batteries, mapping the ocean floor with sonar and magnetic sensors. Unlike traditional ship-based sonar mapping—which is costly, fuel-intensive, and disruptive to marine life—Bedrock’s AUVs operate closer to the seafloor, using less powerful and less harmful sonar frequencies. These vehicles can cover twice the area of a traditional mapping ship, and a single 40-foot vessel can deploy 10 to 12 AUVs simultaneously, significantly increasing mapping efficiency. Bedrock designs and builds its own AUVs, each costing under $1 million, and has developed proprietary software for vehicle operation and data processing. The AUVs store data locally and transmit it to the ship via Wi-Fi when surfacing; the ship then uses a Starlink antenna to upload data to the cloud for near real-time monitoring. Although the AUVs’ positioning accuracy (1-2 meters) is lower than that of ship-based surveys (sub-meter), this level of precision is sufficient for many applications such as offshore wind development, oil and gas exploration, and environmental assessments. The speed and quality of Bedrock’s mapping have also attracted interest from the U.S. Navy. Overall, Bedrock Ocean aims to replace traditional, costly ship-based seafloor mapping with a more efficient, less environmentally disruptive robotic solution.
robotautonomous-underwater-vehicleocean-mappinglithium-ion-batterysonar-technologymarine-roboticsunderwater-navigation