Bluefin Robotics awarded $30m HULS production option
Bluefin Robotics, a leader in the design and manufacturing of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), is being awarded a $30 million contract modification to exercise option III for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Hull Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Localization Systems (HULS) production systems. The HULS production systems support Naval Forces in conducting hull, piers and pilings searches. The contract was structured in three phases or options: demonstration, prototype, and production of the HULS systems. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
The program objective: deliver a small and relatively low-cost autonomous vehicle capable of precision maneuvering, with a focus on ship hull inspection. The requirement to inspect ships' hulls has long been one of the most manpower intensive and time consuming tasks that divers must routinely perform, for both security and husbandry purposes. With increasing demands on the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal qualified diving community, the mission of hull searches has emerged as an ideal application for unmanned systems.
Initially, Bluefin and Massachusetts Institute of Technology were selected to jointly develop the Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle under the Office of Naval Research. The Bluefin Hovering AUV, which is the basis for the EOD HULS program, offers additional applications for both commercial and military hull and infrastructure maintenance and survey.
Source: Bluefin Robotics
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first]()
Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first
UK flight test sees largest unmanned aircraft take off from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut
CATIC have displayed its new AR-2000 drone at Dubai Airshow 2023, emphasising ship-based capabilities with PLA already purchasing.
-
![Australian Triton takes to the skies]()
Australian Triton takes to the skies
Australia has ordered four Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS which can operate as an uncrewed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) alongside the country’s in-service Boeing P-8A MPA fleet.
-
![Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS]()
Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS
The Khronos tethered UAS has been designed to be simple to use and has drawn on Elistair’s experience with hundreds of existing customers.
-
![Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024]()
Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024
The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.
-
![Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities]()
Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities
A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.
