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Marine autonomy specialist Oshen has awarded defense technology firm SEA a contract for additional hydrophones to expand its low-power acoustic sensing capability across a larger fleet of autonomous surface vessels.
The contract follows the successful delivery and initial installation of SEA’s acoustic sensing technology onto Oshen’s sail-powered C-Star micro-drones during a UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) programme. Designed for long-endurance operation in challenging maritime environments, the uncrewed C-Star platforms utilize the low-power acoustic hydrophones to establish a scalable, affordable, and low-signature sensor network capable of enduring wide-area acoustic sensing without high operational complexity.
The joint capability was initially demonstrated at REPMUS, NATO’s largest maritime robotics exercise, where the platforms deployed a world-first ‘acoustic picket line’ capability. The technology is also scheduled for demonstration at the upcoming AUKUS Pillar II Maritime Big Play event, which features advanced maritime technologies from the UK, USA, and Australia. During the event, Oshen will deploy its rugged sail-powered C-Star micro-drones fitted with SEA’s hydrophones to monitor target signatures from underwater assets.
Guy Hope, Business Development Executive at SEA said, “The successful integration of SEA’s hydrophones onto Oshen’s C-Star platforms demonstrates how our proven acoustic technology can be readily adapted for small autonomous systems to provide enduring wide-area sensing capability while reducing operational complexity and cost.
“The strong performance of the hydrophones during the initial programme has enabled us to expand the capability across additional platforms. We’re looking forward to continuing to grow our partnership and demonstrating new approaches to scalable, affordable and low-signature sensing and communication networks.”
Anahita Laverack, CEO at Oshen, stated, “C-Star has been designed to provide long-endurance capability in challenging maritime environments, and SEA’s hydrophones have demonstrated the same high-level of performance needed for tough operating conditions. By integrating SEA’s hydrophones across a larger number of platforms, we can realise an acoustic picket line, and showcase the potential of scalable autonomous sensing networks.”
Looking ahead, SEA and Oshen plan to further collaborate to deliver distributed networks of omni-directional hydrophones to improve performance across wider operating areas. The contract continues to build SEA’s contribution to UK and international wide-area anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and underwater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) programmes, where processing and sensing systems such as KraitSense deliver surveillance across complex operational environments. The hydrophones are designed and manufactured at SEA’s Barnstaple facility in North Devon, highlighting the South West region’s role as a center for maritime and defense technology innovation.
