Ocean Infinity adds AUVs to fleet, trials due in Q2

Ocean Infinity has purchased two more autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) from Kongsberg Maritime.

This will increase Ocean Infinity’s fleet of HUGIN 6000 AUVs from six to eight vehicles. The AUVs will be used worldwide to collect high resolution seabed data for clients.

The fleet of AUVs will be operated simultaneously, each AUV programmed with an independent mission plan. Independence allows the systems to cover huge swaths of seabed quickly and accurately. Each AUV can reach depths of 6000m and has an approximate endurance of 48 hours.

Read more: Herding AUVs

Ocean Infinity's AUVs all come standard with side scan sonar, multi-beam ecosounder, sub-bottom profiler, onductivity/temperature/depth sensor and self-compensating magnetometer. A standardized approach allows for operators to quickly become comfortable with operating, maintaining and when necessary repairing the vehicles quickly.

In the second quarter of 2017 Ocean Infinity will begin sea trials on the simultaneous operation of multiple autonomous vehicles to be used in the exploration of the seabed.

The AUV fleet will be accompanied by unmanned surface vehicles (USV) to ensure precise positioning and constant two-way communication from the surface to the seabed. This comprehensive seabed exploration system’s command and control will be from a 115 meter vessel equipped with two ROVs.