AGISTAR is revolutionizing oceanographic missions with its agile and reliable Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV). Combining advanced autonomy, modular designs, and cost-effective solutions, their USV platforms excel in data collection and diverse marine applications. OST sat down with Andre Gallissaires to find out more.
How is AGISTAR advancing the capabilities of USVs for oceanographic missions, and what sets your platforms apart in terms of autonomy and reliability?
AGISTAR advances USV capabilities by combining modular designs, high-precision navigation, and real-time adaptive autonomy. Our lightweight and modular platforms stand out for their reliability, ease of deployment, and ability to perform complex oceanographic missions with minimal human intervention and reduced operational costs.
Designed to be affordable, lightweight, and compact, our USVs are easy to transport and deploy, even in hard-to-reach areas where larger USV’s cannot go. Our USVs are user-friendly and fully customizable, adapting to all types of missions. Whether it involves research, monitoring, or aquaculture, AGISTAR offers smart, reliable solutions.
At AGISTAR, we don’t just offer a product, we provide personalized engineering support. Our team works directly with clients to ensure that each USV’s is optimized for the mission at hand, delivering reliable performance without compromising on cost or usability.
Can you highlight any recent deployments or case studies where AGISTAR’s USVs or remote systems played a critical role in ocean data collection or other marine applications?
The BX-USV II has been recently deployed for environmental monitoring and bathymetric surveying in coastal and inland waters. In one mission, it collected water quality data autonomously in a coastal estuary, while another deployment involved high-precision riverbed mapping for infrastructure projects. These cases demonstrate the BX-USV II’s ability to deliver reliable, high-resolution data while reducing operational risks and costs.
How is AGISTAR balancing energy efficiency and sustainability with endurance and effectiveness in its robotic platforms, particularly for extended missions in remote or harsh marine environments?
AGISTAR designs its USVs with lightweight composite materials, low-energy propulsion systems, and optimized power management to maximize endurance while minimizing environmental impact. By integrating efficient electric thrusters and sustainable technologies, our platforms maintain high performance even during extended missions in remote or harsh marine environments, balancing energy efficiency with operational effectiveness.
How does AGISTAR ensure precise navigation and control of its USVs in dynamic marine environments, including coastal and offshore regions?
Our USVs are equipped with dynamic positioning capabilities and autonomous route correction algorithms, allowing them to adapt to changing marine conditions such as currents, tides, and waves. In coastal and offshore environments, the combination of satellite navigation, onboard sensors, and intelligent control systems guarantees stable, accurate, and safe operations.
How are AGISTAR’s robotic systems contributing to cost-effective and low-risk alternatives to crewed marine research expeditions?
AGISTAR’s robotic systems offer a cost-effective and low-risk alternative to traditional crewed marine research expeditions by reducing the need for large vessels, minimizing personnel deployment, and lowering operational costs.
Our lightweight and modular USVs can be easily transported, rapidly deployed, and operated remotely, significantly decreasing mission preparation time and logistical complexity. By automating data collection and survey operations, AGISTAR solutions not only reduce risks to human crews but also make marine research more accessible and sustainable.
Is AGISTAR leveraging AI or machine learning to enhance the autonomy and data processing capabilities of its robotic solutions?
Yes, AGISTAR is actively integrating AI and machine learning into its robotic solutions to enhance both autonomy and data processing capabilities. Our AI algorithms support smarter route planning, dynamic obstacle avoidance, and adaptive mission adjustments in real-time.
In terms of data processing, machine learning models help optimize sensor data analysis, enabling faster and more accurate interpretation of bathymetric, hydrological, and environmental information. For example, the AGISTAR CLEANER can automatically detect debris and collect them.
Can you share whether we can expect any specific innovations from AGISTAR in the coming years to support the growing demand for autonomous and remotely operated systems in ocean science?
We are continuously working on enhancing and refining our USV platforms to meet the evolving needs of the ocean science community. Our focus is on making hydrographic surveys more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.
We are currently sophisticating our USVs to reduce operational complexity. The goal is to enable faster mission planning, real-time data access, and greater versatility across scientific and environmental applications.
You can expect upcoming innovations that support plug-and-play payloads, improved communication systems, and extended endurance — all while maintaining our commitment to lightweight, modular, and cost-effective platforms.
We look forward to contributing to the future of autonomous ocean science.
