Transoceanic USV with Multi-Robot Deployment Capabilities Introduced

Exail has unveiled a new transoceanic uncrewed surface vessel with multi-robot deployment capabilities, suited to conducting unmanned subsea inspection, hydrographic, geophysical, and UXO surveys By Sarah Simpson / 13 Mar 2024

Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)

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Transoceanic USV with Multi-Robot Deployment Capabilities Introduced
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The DriX O-16 by Exail is a new transoceanic Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), that benefits from an autonomy of 2,500 Nm and a unique naval architecture that enables the USV to withstand the most severe ocean conditions.

Designed for long-duration operations (up to 30 days) DriX O-16 can deploy multiple payloads from its gondola, located below the surface, such as deep-water Multibeam Echosounders (MBES), Sub-Bottom Profilers (SBP), or acoustic subsea positioning and communication systems (USBL).

A versatile platform, Exails new transoceanic USV can also launch and recover a wide range of subsea assets such as Remotely Operated Towed Vehicles (ROTVs), inspection-class Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), as well as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).

This makes the new DriX O-16 especially suited for full ocean depth scientific and hydrographic surveys, geophysical and UXO surveys, as well as subsea infrastructures inspection and surveys that might require the deployment of multiple robots.

The new USV leverages the successful track record of the already existing DriX USV, launched back in 2017 and which has accumulated over 150,000 hours of operations at sea in more than 19 countries.

The new DriX O-16 benefits from a hybrid propulsion, redundant architecture, advanced communication systems, as well as AI powered obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities. It offers a high level of reliability and operational efficiency, and new multi-mission capabilities, for enhanced autonomous operations at sea.

With this next-generation transoceanic low-carbon USV, we are pushing back the limits of ocean exploration, empowering collaborative autonomy between surface and subsea drones, while minimizing human exposure at sea,” explains Olivier Cervantes, VP Maritime Autonomy Solutions at Exail.

The introduction of our new DriX O-16 truly marks a significant stride in autonomous maritime operations, as multi-robot missions are definitely where we see the maritime industry and our own developments leaning in the coming years.

Posted by Sarah Simpson Sarah is Head of Content at Ocean Science Technology and has become a respected voice in marine technology and autonomous marine systems. With a career rooted in research and journalism, Sarah joined in 2023 and specializes in translating the complex world of ocean robotics, subsea exploration, and autonomous vessels into compelling, accessible content. Connect