AUV Tech & Custom Cabling Advance Non-Invasive Sub-Ice Climate Research

ETH Zurich is heading the innovative POLARIS project to develop an advanced Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) designed for climate monitoring and security research, with NOVACAVI providing a key system component in the form of a custom neutrally buoyant cable.

The primary objective of this specialized vehicle is the accurate, non-invasive measurement of ice thickness from below the surface. As the vehicle moves beneath a lake, it continuously collects data to generate a high-resolution dataset capable of mapping the spatial distribution of the ice. This pioneering approach enables the collection of highly precise data without requiring personnel to drill through the ice, thereby avoiding surface disturbance and significantly reducing operational risks in extreme environmental conditions.

To support operations in this demanding environment, NOVACAVI has developed a custom neutrally buoyant cable for the project. This component serves as an integral part of the system architecture, ensuring overall reliability, enhancing vehicle manoeuvrability, and supporting mission safety.

“We are proud to support ETH Zurich in this groundbreaking endeavour,” said Francesca Faverio, Business Development Manager of NOVACAVI. “The POLARIS project exemplifies the type of forward-thinking innovation that is essential to better understand and protect our environment, while ensuring safety and operational excellence in extreme conditions.”