The vast expanse of the ocean, once seen as a formidable natural barrier, has turned into a contested domain where nations strive for maritime superiority and to safeguard economic interests. In this arena, where unseen forces often dictate outcomes, the urgency for innovation and technological dominance is critical.
This necessity is particularly pronounced in the strategically important waters of the Indo-Pacific, where advanced capabilities have been identified with Pillar Two of the AUKUS agreement to help sustain peace and stability. Leading the charge in this space are autonomous systems, a sector poised to revolutionise maritime defence.
Hydrus – The Drone Revolution Underwater
At the forefront of this new age are AI-driven underwater drones like Advanced Navigation’s Hydrus. Designed as dual use for both defence and civilian applications, Hydrus excels in gathering underwater intelligence. These range from change monitoring, vessel maintenance and mine detection.
In addition to its compact size, Hydrus’ key advantage is its autonomy and ability to navigate complex areas effortlessly. The vehicle design synthesises numerous cutting-edge navigational technologies such as Doppler Velocity Log, ultra-short baseline and an inertial navigation system.
These enable Hydrus to be fully autonomous, helping it avoid collisions and detect obstacles, ensuring its prolonged and secure operation underwater. Combined with its 4K 60FPS camera, Hydrus can simultaneously capture cinema-grade video and high-quality, geo-referenced imagery.
All this makes Hydrus an invaluable tool for high-risk operations and ideal for tasks considered too dull, dirty, and dangerous for crewed vessels or divers. Its application also extends assessing vital national infrastructure and conducting precise seabed mapping.
Sovereign Technology, More than Self-Sufficiency
Beyond its technological capabilities, Hydrus is sovereign technology, having been entirely developed and built inside the nation’s largest subsea robotics centre in Perth, Western Australia. Advanced Navigation’s strategic investment in this facility is a commitment to onshore regenerative manufacturing, bolstering self-reliance and national security.
It not only strengthens Australia’s own technology independence but supports the local technology sector, driving economic growth domestically while reducing dependence on overseas technology. With sovereign control over critical data, nations ensure reliable decision making and strategic autonomy in the face of emerging threats and security concerns.
Enhancing Underwater Intelligence
Hydrus is transforming underwater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with its cutting-edge capabilities. Its open platform facilitates the integration of custom software, allowing users to fully harness the potential of its onboard cameras, sensors, navigation systems, and modems with native AI applications.
Hydrus’ capabilities were showcased in a recent collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science ReefWorks program. During a simulated exercise focused on sea mine detection, Hydrus was deployed to autonomously scan a seabed to detect objects of interest.
Hydrus in high turbidity: (Left) Low visibility camera view; (Right) Detailed photogrammetry model from Hydrus data.
Hydrus excelled in mapping the specified areas and located all concealed objects that resembled sea mines. This exercise doubled as an opportunity to train Hydrus’ artificial intelligence model for high-accuracy localisation and inspection.
Easy Deployment and Mission Planning
A key strength of Hydrus is its ease of use and deployment, eliminating the need for specialised training or complex equipment. Users can easily set up missions using the intuitive mission planning software and manually hand-launch Hydrus off a boat.
The mission planning software is also capable of utilising historical georeferenced data to precisely replicate past missions. This enables comprehensive data analysis, including monitoring trends and detecting minor changes in ocean areas and sites over time.
Complementing Subsea Technologies
To further enhance underwater capabilities, Hydrus can be paired with Advanced Navigation’s Subsonus, an acoustic positioning system designed to deliver assured position, navigation, and timing underwater. Subsonus enables ultra-accurate tracking of Hydrus and similar assets such as tethered ROVs. It can provide detailed information on their position, depth, velocity and heading, as well as real-time acoustic communications.
Subsonus also unlocks the ability to utilise Subsonus Tag, a small underwater transponder. When paired with Subsonus, the Subsonus Tag facilitates real-time monitoring of underwater assets (e.g. divers or objects of interest), enhancing personnel safety, operational awareness, and asset management.
Navigating the Future of Naval Forces
It is becoming increasingly clear that the future of naval forces will be redefined by emerging autonomous systems. For policymakers, defence strategists and maritime security experts, the mission is clear: to identify new technologies that will seamlessly integrate with existing naval assets and enhance operational supremacy in the oceans.
Autonomous underwater drones such as Hydrus promise greater situational awareness, rapid response, and the execution of complex missions with precision. Embracing these innovations is not just about keeping pace, it’s about setting the pace in a relentlessly evolving maritime landscape. By harnessing the power of autonomous underwater vehicles, naval forces can anticipate challenges, make informed decisions, and ensure they have the upper hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Inspection-Class Micro AUV, and why is it relevant to naval applications?
An Inspection-Class Micro AUV is a compact, commercially developed underwater drone designed for underwater inspection and survey operations, including infrastructure inspections, benthic surveys, and object of interest verification.
Their advanced sensors and agility underwater make them well suited for gathering critical data in challenging or risky environments, which is crucial for maintaining maritime security and operational efficiency.
How are Inspection-Class Micro AUVs used in military operations by the Navy?
Inspection-Class Micro AUVs can be used for numerous military operations where precise data collection is required, from day-day activities such as infrastructure inspection to a wide range of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Specifically, these AUVs are often deployed for detailed inspections of underwater structures and verifying objects of interest identified by broader sonar systems. Their ability to be hand-deployed simplifies logistics, allowing users to quickly respond to emerging threats and stay tactically ready.
What are the key features of Inspection-Class Micro AUVs that make them suitable for military use?
Inspection-Class Micro AUVs are equipped with advanced navigation sensors and robust communication systems, making them highly suitable for autonomous missions. For instance, object of interest verification, where they can be programmed to closely examine targets identified by sonar systems for further investigation.
They are also well-suited for benthic and infrastructure inspections to ascertain detailed assessments of the seafloor and underwater installations.
What advantages do Inspection-Class Micro AUVs offer in military contexts?
Inspection-Class Micro AUVs are a great value add for the Navy, presenting numerous applications and benefits. Not only do they facilitate quick and efficient investigations of critical infrastructure and possible threats but they can be used to generate situational awareness, allowing for informed decisions before deploying divers into unknown waters.
Additionally, their commercial development has made them smaller, more cost-effective and easier to deploy, particularly in areas that might be inaccessible to larger vehicles. In short, their blend of versatility, precision and reliability make Micro AUVs a valuable tool in any modern navy's arsenal.
