Exail, formerly iXblue and ECA Group, received a contract to experiment a hydrographic unmanned surface vehicle from the French government’s procurement agency.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Dubbed the DriX, the system is designed to enhance underwater inspection and mapping capabilities, with the upcoming experiment designed to verify the findings of the previous tests.
The tests are also designed to optimise launch and recovery procedures for the vehicle and will be conducted alongside the French Navy’s hydrographic and oceanographic service.
The contract is expected to last for six months commencing in February 2023 and is valued at €500,000.
According to the company, the previous tests saw the capability undertake bathymetric surveys to nearly 200 metres, comparing the DriX to alternative USVs currently in service.