Unmanned Systems Technology 015 | Martin UAV V-Bat | William Sachiti | Sonar Systems | USVs | Desert Aircraft DA150 EFI | SeaCat AUV/ROV | Gimbals

48 Insight | USVs Systems, has started testing the first of its fourth-generation common unmanned surface vehicle (CUSV) in water. It is being used for the US Navy’s mine countermeasures programme, and Textron completed the design, build and component test phases in November 2016. After component testing, Textron began the systems-level integration and test phase, leading to tests on the dockside and in the water at Lake Pontchartrain near its Marine & Land Systems facility in Louisiana. The phase includes testing the system’s integrated generators, engines and datalinks, as well as manoeuvrability. The CUSV is now undergoing formal testing with the US Navy to validate system functionality. The technology was demonstrated initially in 2009, and variations of the craft have been used for 2000 hours to carry sidescan sonar, mine neutralisation, non-lethal weapons and ISR sensors. Textron is now building two more of the vessels in a $14m contract that will be delivered in 2018. Ocius Technology in Australia has also developed mine countermeasures systems, extending these designs into developing a new generation of USVs for surveying using energy harvested from the sun, wind and waves. The company already makes large solar- powered ferries that are used in Hong Kong, and has now developed a series of USVs that can travel the world’s oceans independently. The Bluebottle for example can remain at sea for weeks or months at a time. The latest 5.6 m Bluebottle Stinger harvests its energy using solar panels, from wind via a rigid wing sail, and from waves via a unique rudder that generates forward motion from vertical wave forces. It can travel at an average speed of about 4 knots while carrying a payload of up to 100 kg. Designed to deploy a sonar array automatically to monitor activity under the water, it can also capture video images from above the surface and relay the data back to a control centre. The solar cells produce up to 2 kW of power that is stored in lead-acid batteries with a capacity of 16.8 kWh to power the sensors and the satellite comms system. To get the speed and large payload capability requires a lightweight construction, so it has a foam hull with e-glass (low-emission fibreglass) reinforcement to create a rigid shell. The wing sail was built using foam as a former attached to a hollow carbon mast tube. Summary Makers of large as well as small USVs are seeing the opportunities in the changes in maritime regulations due in 2020, and are developing technologies to be ready at the outset of those changes. Much of the technology comes from the automotive world, with electric motors and battery systems for smaller craft, backed by generators to provide more endurance. Lidar and camera sensors are also being deployed, but initially with much more of a focus on remote operation. That means control centres are having to be built to replicate a vessel’s bridge as the captain would see it, or optimise the control systems for more efficient operation. The aim is to provide the control data alongside the monitoring data, to allow companies to ensure that all the systems are running effectively on larger vessels. That is even more important with autonomous shipping travelling many more hours than ships with crews. The changes will also see fleets of smaller craft being able to travel around the world for surveying applications. These will be offered as a service, owned by the manufacturer and leased by the ‘pixel’ rather than the day. Both these trends will drive major changes in the way technology is deployed on the world’s oceans. August/September 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology The fourth-generation Common USV is currently undergoing sea trials (Courtesy of Textron Systems)