Greensea IQ’s Bayonet 150 Autonomous Underwater Ground Vehicle (AUGV) has successfully completed an offshore deployment and transit to shore following a proof of concept conducted by Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) using a modified WAM-V 16 Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV).
Requested by Greensea IQ, the demonstration focused on the transport, deployment, and safe separation of the two unmanned vehicles, examining the deployment of the Bayonet 150 from an unmanned surface platform ahead of its subsequent transit to the beach.
For the test, OPT modified its WAM-V 16 to accommodate and deploy the 300-pound amphibious vehicle. The USV transported Bayonet offshore, initiated a remotely triggered release, and safely deployed its umbilical.
Following separation, Bayonet operated under Greensea IQ’s control system and successfully completed its transit from the offshore release point to the beach.
Designed for amphibious and surf-zone operations, the Bayonet platform supports applications relevant to mine countermeasures and other littoral missions. The demonstration explored an approach to offshore deployment using an unmanned surface platform, with Bayonet subsequently completing its transit to shore under Greensea IQ’s control system.
Paco Santana, VP of Business Development for Greensea IQ, commented, “Paired with a Bayonet 150 AUGV, the WAM-V USV can now take on seabed missions with greater flexibility. The Bayonet Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AUGV) deploys straight from the USV’s open chassis, creating one unmanned system that can cover the surface and work the seabed in the same mission.”
Tracy Pagliara, Acting President and CEO of OPT, added, “We believe the test demonstrates WAM-V 16’s role as a modular surface transport and deployment platform. Rather than owning every component of an operation, our WAM-V can be adapted to carry and deploy specialized systems developed and controlled by mission partners.”
The completed proof of concept demonstrated the transport and remotely triggered release of the Bayonet 150 from the modified WAM-V 16, followed by its successful transit from the offshore release point to the beach under Greensea IQ’s control system.
