Products
Green
USEA unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) consume 10 times less energy than a typical offshore vessel on the same operation. This means that even before any measures to offset emissions or zero-emission energy carriers, the ocean data is inherently more than 100 to 500 times greener than the traditional alternatives. USEA USVs are designed for the use of hydrogen fuel in the future resulting in a carbon emission free operation, although at present it will operate with a hybrid solution containing bio-diesel and the use of batteries which reduces the carbon emission with 92% compared with a typical conventional vessel.
Safe
Delivering ocean data collected by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) from unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), eliminates all human exposure to offshore hazards. USEA unmanned launch and recovery system (uLARS) enables these operations and makes a fully autonomous and unmanned offshore project execution.
Cost-efficient
Costs of ocean data collection and light intervention operations are tightly linked to the duration of the operations on the oceans and the resources used. Ocean data that is collected by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) runs at speeds up to 10 times faster than by conventional remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). With the use of USEA unmanned launch and recovery system (uLARS) we can operate multiple AUVs from one single unmanned surface vessel (USV), multiplying the productivity by another factor of up to 5.
Unmanned surface vehicle (USV)
10 times more energy-efficient than conventional vessels.
Zero offshore crew.
It is clear to us that, at the end of the day, what matters most for our customers is to receive world-class ocean data at absolute minimal impact on the environment and society and at the lowest possible cost. In this context, vessels are part of the means, not the end goals. That is why we have developed an USEA unmanned surface vessel (USV) to deliver just that: sustainable, safe and cost-efficient support to acquisition of ocean data, with no compromise in quality.
Unmanned surface vehicle (USV)
- Length: 24m
- Level of autonomy: Permanently unmanned, remotely operated with limited autonomous functions.
- Propulsion: fully redundant with dynamic positioning capabilities
- Seaworthiness: 100-year storm in the Northern Atlantic
- Endurance: 4 weeks without refuelling or support
- Underwater robot capacity: up to 5 AUVs or 1 WROV
- Main comms: GSO satcom, LEO satcom, MBR, 4G, VHF
Having ocean data in the core of everything we do, our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are designed with a redundant communications systems. The Shore Control Centre is at all times fully aware of the status and in control of the ongoing operation on the oceans. The USV's intelligence systems support safe operation and enables efficient communication of situational awareness data and survey data.
Our USVs are optimised for operations such as subsea survey, inspection and light intervention using unmanned underwater vehicles (AUVs). Its main specialties are transport, deployment, in-mission support and recovery of AUVs, ROVs and ROTVs.
Equipped with a moonpool and a spacious aft deck, our USVs are capable of operating multiple underwater vehicles even in severe weather conditions.
For hydrographic surveys that do not require underwater vehicles, USVs operate multiple mapping sensors such as multibeam echosounders installed in a gondola.
Any USV can be equipped with our proprietary, revolutionary unmanned launch and recovery system (uLARS). Developed for “unmanning” all the tasks and interfaces related to AUV management onboard a vessel.
USEA unmanned launch and recovery system (uLARS) is capable of:
- Launching AUVs
- Recovering AUVs
- Recharging AUV batteries whilst still submerged
- Transferring data between AUVs and USVs whilst still submerged
- Makes it possible to utilize multiple AUVs in an operation from one single USV
How our uLARS makes it possible for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to operate autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs):
Docking at a controlled depth
The USEA unmanned launch and recovery system (uLARS) docks to the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) at a controlled depth, through an actively controlled towhead. The towhead itself is steered in the horizontal and vertical planes towards the AUV in the water column, whilst the tow cable de-couples the towhead from the vessel motions using a smart winch. In practice, this means that the AUV can be docked under virtually any weather condition.
uLARS makes submerged power and data transfer possible!
Full power and data connectivity can be kept with the autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) when they are on the unmanned surface vehcle's (USV’s) deck or when they are in water, docked to the towhead at a controlled depth. In practice, this means that AUVs do not need to be brought to and from the surface at every battery/data storage cycle. And most importantly, AUV operations do not need to stop because of weather conditions.
Safe launch and recovery through moonpool by uLARS
When autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are to be launched to water or recovered to the deck, this is done in a controlled manner, using our proprietary unmanned launch and recovery system (uLARS) through the vessel’s moonpool. Replacing cranes and traditional stinger L&R solutions, the uLARS handles AUVs in the safest possible manner.
Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)
10 times more time-efficient than traditional ROVs
Tether-less autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are free from all challenges associated with tether management and drag. Hence, whether in a survey, inspection or light intervention work, a suitably configured AUV sets the standard in shallow, deep and ultradeep waters.
AUVs are ready to harness the latest and future developments in AUV edge computing for sensor data. This enables real-time quality control and enables shore control to make the right operational priorities.
Survey autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV)
Survey AUVs are optimised for data collection. These AUVs have the ideal stability and noise signature for accurate acoustic and optical survey sensors. In missions such as seabed mapping or cable inspection, survey AUVs can collect data at speeds up to 10 times faster than remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), with no compromise in data quality. It is simply the most efficient sensor carrier, and the advantages are even more pronounced when covering large areas or long corridors.
Multipurpose AUV
Multipurpose AUVs are vehicles with advanced manoeuvrability and ability to carry tools for light intervention and special sensor packages for inspection. They cover many of the requirements that historically have been met with ROVs, just in a smarter way.
Multipurpose AUVs can also serve as resident drones where a subsea docking station is available. The resident drone mode, combined with the support from our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) is a game changer for permanent offshore facilities.
