Autonomous Marine Systems
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ZeroUSV, Oshen and MarineAI have secured UK Defence Innovation support to develop and trial a new autonomous sensing capability for underwater operations.
The project launches this month to develop a network of ocean robots designed to assure the successful operations of submersible fleet assets. As Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs) become an integral part of the navy’s future fleet, maintaining contact and verifying asset status without relying on direct, high-bandwidth or detectable communications has become a critical requirement.
The technical solution utilizes ZeroUSV’s Oceanus12 to autonomously transport and launch a cluster of Oshen C-Star Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) over a specific area of sea. These C-Stars function as a distributed passive acoustic network, capable of picking up covert signals from platforms such as the XV Excalibur. MarineAI is providing the integration for the C-Star launch system via its GuardianAI suite onboard the Oceanus12.
By combining level 4+ autonomous deployment, passive acoustic sensing, and distributed communications, the system offers a scalable means to support submersible operations. This includes monitoring critical national infrastructure, defence missions, and seabed mapping. The upcoming sea trials will use the XV Excalibur as a representative platform to assess the network’s ability to confirm asset presence and progress during underwater missions.
The complexity of this multi-platform integration represents a new operational concept for the Royal Navy and allied forces. These forces currently utilize advanced submersible assets for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of subsea cables and pipelines, as well as anti-submarine warfare missions.
Matthew Ratsey, Co-founder and Managing Director at ZeroUSV, said, “Underwater operations depend on knowing where assets are and whether they’re operating as intended, but direct communications aren’t always desirable or possible.
“This project lets us explore a different approach, using Oceanus12 to place a small constellation of surface vessels that can listen passively and provide assurance without compromising the mission. We’re pleased to be working with Oshen and MarineAI under UKDI support to test the concept at sea and understand how it could strengthen future UK and allied operations.”
Anahita Laverack, CEO at Oshen, commented, “Wide area, persistent monitoring only works if the sensing platforms are robust, simple to deploy and able to reliably complete durations over multiple months. C-Stars were designed for exactly that kind of role. In this project we are looking at how a constellation of C-Stars, deployed by Oceanus12, can form a practical acoustic network that supports key underwater missions. We welcome the chance to develop and prove the approach with ZeroUSV and MarineAI under UKDI support.”
Oliver Thompson, director of engineering at MarineAI, added, “Through GuardianAI™, we’ll be enabling the Oceanus12 to plan, deploy and operate cooperatively, UKDI’s backing gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how trusted autonomy can support resilient underwater operations in real conditions.”
The UKDI-funded programme will progress through an initial phase of design, integration, and sea trials. The findings from these tests are expected to inform future operational concepts for UK and allied underwater missions.
