Elwave has completed collaborative on-water trials in Portland Harbour, United Kingdom, demonstrating the integration of its EPULSE active sensing range with a compact Mine Countermeasures (MCM) robotic stack, using the TETRAPULSE active electric-mapping sensor.
Conducted over a full day, Elwave’s TETRAPULSE sensor was integrated with a robotic configuration including VideoRay’s MSS Defender Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and Sonardyne’s Sprint-Nav Micro navigation solution.
The objective of the trials was to demonstrate the Defender’s capability to detect an ECS Special Projects inert target mine using the EPULSE range and to accurately mark its position using Sprint-Nav Micro, incorporating its fibre-optic gyro and integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS).
The integrated sensing, navigation, and robotic configuration successfully detected, classified, and accurately localized the inert target mine in a realistic operational environment, including the detection and classification of both metallic and non-metallic objects.
The trials were carried out as a collaborative effort between Elwave, Sonardyne International, ECS Special Projects, Voyis, and Atlantas Marine Limited, with engineers working together closely throughout the day to operate and evaluate the combined system.
The collaboration reflects a broader “find, fix, and finish” MCM capability delivered on a small, portable, inspection-class ROV platform. These trials provided real-world data demonstrating survey-grade navigation, buried target detection, precise identification, and pathways toward safe neutralization.
The results from the Portland Harbour trials will be presented at the UXO Symposium Exhibition, taking place in Manchester in February 2026. The presentation will include contributions from specialists in operational and unexploded ordnance (UXO) domains, including:
- Richard Stanley, Project Leader – ROV Operations, Atlantas Marine Ltd, speaking on UXO operations on inspection-class ROVs
- Steve Randall, Managing Director, Special Projects
