US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
XLe Spirit ROV completes sea trials
Forum Subsea Technologies’ XLe Spirit remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has successfully completed sea trials in Norway, the company announced on 9 October.
The new generation electric observation class ROV is the smallest in the company’s new range, and powerful enough to perform subsea maintenance and repair work. It is designed for the aquaculture market and capable of tasks such as net and tank inspection.
The ROV was tested in a fjord with a 500m water depth in cooperation with the company’s Norwegian partner, Innova. Standard equipment function testing was confirmed including all ancillary equipment: cameras, lights, altimeters and sonars. The trials followed a 12 week assessment at Forum’s test tank in Kirbymoorside, Yorkshire, UK.
The XLe Spirit has an optional electric or hydraulic five-function manipulator arm. The self-regulating power feature compensates for tether loss ensuring a constant and stable power delivery to the vehicle, regardless of tether length. It also incorporates a number of features to maximise its stability for use as a sensor platform, including regulated propulsion power and a wide range of auto-functions for positioning and flying.
Kevin Taylor, vice president, Forum Subsea Technologies, said: ‘The XLe Spirit’s successful sea trials mark a significant milestone as we continue to bring the latest technology to the industry. The vehicle’s capabilities make it ideally suited to a wide range of operations in the oil and gas and aquaculture markets.’
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