AUV Navigation Integration to Support Scalable Subsea Survey Operations

Njord Survey has selected Sonardyne’s navigation technology for its ecoSUB Robotics Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to support scalable subsea survey operations.

The solution integrates Sonardyne’s SPRINT-Nav U, its smallest navigator, providing survey-grade positioning for low-logistics AUV platforms. By equipping these portable vehicles with high-accuracy navigation, Njord Survey aims to deploy multiple AUVs in parallel, reducing vessel dependency, logistical demands, and overall cost and project timelines.

The approach is initially focused on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) surveys, where combining detection and verification on a single, easily transportable platform enables faster and more flexible survey delivery without compromising data quality.

As a provider of low-carbon hydrographic and geophysical surveys, Njord Survey is continuing to evolve its approach to subsea survey operations.

Anders Wikmar, Survey and Technical Director at Njord Survey, stated, “Our goal is bringing smart and cost-effective solutions to the market by pushing the boundaries working with partners like ecoSUB and Sonardyne. Using ecoSUB’s small AUVs at scale lets us move beyond one-platform, one-vessel operations and deploy multiple platforms in parallel, dramatically improving survey efficiency.

“By reducing vessel dependency and combining detection with visual verification on the same platform, we cut false targets, save further vessel time and can re-task vehicles quickly – delivering faster, more flexible surveys without compromising data quality. This can only work if each vehicle can collect data that is spatially reliable enough for detection, correlation and verification. SPRINT-Nav U provides the level of navigation performance we need, making these operational gains possible and that’s not something logistically possible or cost effective before.”

Iain Vincent, Director & General Manager at ecoSUB Robotics, added, “With SPRINT-Nav U providing reliable, survey-grade navigation into our one person-portable AUVs, we’ve been able to move from standard, off-the-shelf designs to a more engineered, project-focused approach. This means creating vehicles that can carry high-quality payloads, operate independently and adapt to evolving customer needs. Together with Njord Survey, we’re transforming small AUVs into scalable, primary survey platforms.”

Njord Survey plans to deploy the equipped ecoSUB AUVs immediately on client projects to demonstrate the practical benefits of this scalable survey offering.

Aidan Thorn, Marine Robotics Business Development Manager at Sonardyne, commented, “In the past, small-scale AUV navigation has been the limiting factor, because position accuracy hasn’t matched survey requirements. SPRINT-Nav U removed these limits. It is unlocking collaborations like this that show how by working together we can bring new, smart and cost-effective safe, secure and environmentally sound solutions into the market.”