Unmanned Survey and Surveillance Vehicles

SASS-Q

This full scale prototype vehicle was designed and built with the backing of an EU SMART innovation award and used to prove not only the vehicle performance but also to test the novel use of construction materials and fabrication methods. The 6 metre vehicle has a maximum speed of 10 knots and a payload capacity of up to 200 kg and designed to be launched and recovered from a ship or to be deployed from the shore. The vehicle can carry fixed sensors for above and below water surveillance and can be designed for operations where a particularly low underwater noise signature is required. To date, the vehicle has been successfully operated with sonars for underwater survey and with cameras for above water surveillance. Most recently the vehicle was evaluated by the UK MOD under their concept capability demonstrator (CCD) programme.

Status: Built and demonstrated 2005 onwards.
 

ASV 6000 - Hydrographic Survey Vehicle

An autonomous semi-submersible vehicle designed for shallow water hydrographic survey and surface surveillance. This diesel powered vehicle has an operational speed of 8 knots with an associated endurance of 48 hours in Seastate 4. The vehicle has a payload capacity of 300 kg and a maximum speed of 12 knots.

A similar vehicle, the ASV 5500 which is currently under contract with C&C Technologies in the USA, is fitted with a Klein 5000 side scan sonar and two Simrad EM3002 multibeam sonars for commercial hydrographic survey.

Status: This vehicle is due to be launched in 2009.
 

ASV 9500 Multi Role Semi-Submersible

Designed to offer long range (1500 + miles) survey and surveillance operations within the "Exclusive Economic Zone" (EEZ), this 9.5 metre diesel powered vehicle has been designed to a rugged specification, with the ability to operate in Seastate 5/6 at moderate speeds, with a sprint speed of 20 knots and the ability to remain at sea for extended periods of up to 30 days.

Payloads can include above and below water surveillance systems and an ROV for inspection down to 200 metres depth. Specialist versions for deploying AUV’s and for towing sweeps and arrays have also been designed.

Status: Designed and tank tested.