Nauticus Robotics Set to Launch Underwater Robotic Navy Fleet

Nauticus Robotics has announced the production of a new robotic navy fleet, with the first delivery due to be rolled out in Q4 2022. With planned use in various offshore industries, applications for the aquatic devices will vary from data collection activities to sunset maintenance and intervention.

Nauticus Robotics Inc is a Houston-based developer of surface and subsea robotic devices and services which rely on autonomous software. The development of their Nauticus Fleet will be used in offshore industries around the world with the underwater craft able to perform a wide range of different functions.

Nauticus Fleet includes both surface and undersea devices which work together to deliver data and complete activities. Each robot has its own robot partner; one working below the surface of the water, and the other above it. Hydronaut is the component that works on the surface; measuring 18 metres it is a type of device known as an optionally crewed autonomous surface vessel (ASV). This means it will help to support the launch of the underwater vessels and assist in the real-time operations, plus aid recovery.

The Aquanaut is the underwater partner to Hydronaut and is a free-swimming, fully electric subsea robotic device. Aquanaut is controlled via acoustic communication networking and its agility means it is able to perform a wide range of subsea tasks including inspection, data collection and manipulation. Its wriggling movements in the water provide the accuracy but are also the reason it’s sometimes described as a robotic fish! Hydronaut will transport Aquanaut to and from the site and carry out battery recharging. Hydronaut is also vita to link up Aquanaut with the local operations centre for supervised activities. This is why the pair are essential to work together; they can’t be sent out to work solo.

Hydronaut and Aquanaut are efficient pairing that doesn’t need on the spot expert technical management. However, the Houston main operations centre can also provide further operational and technical support as required. The Nauticus Fleet has been made available for launch for the first time in 2022 and is expected to continue to roll out over the next two years.

The fleet will comprise 20 pairs of robots, with each pair having both Aquanaut and Hydronaut to work together. The first pair will be delivered at the end of 2022 with the remainder of the 20 pairs delivered by the close of 2024. Regional operations for Nauticus are expected to be carried out in the United Kingdom, Norway, Brazil, and the Gulf of Mexico. The company plans to expand further around the world, with the ultimate goal of having operational centres located strategically and able to provide remote service teams and operational support.

Nauticus say that the technology used in their fleet slashes operational costs in half, reducing the deployment of personnel by 90% and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 90%. The fleet relies on the ToolKITT software platform, the autonomous technology only by Nauticus that provides automation plus machine intelligence. Given the advanced specs on the robotic fleet, Nauticus believe that when they’ve rolled out the full service to its locations around the world, Aquanaut and Hydronaut will transform underwater operations in a truly remarkable way.