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A new transoceanic uncrewed surface vessel, DriX 0-16, has been unveiled by maritime autonomy solutions company Exail.
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Benefiting from an autonomy of 2,500 nautical miles and a unique naval architecture that enables the uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to withstand the most severe ocean conditions, the new DriX 0-16 has been designed for long-duration operations (up to 30 days) and con deploy multiple payloads and subsea assets.
The new USV leverages the successful track record of the already existing DriX USV, launched back in 2017 and that accumulates over 150,000 hours of operations at sea in more than 19 countries.
The new DriX 0-16 benefits from a hybrid propulsion, redundant architecture, advanced communication systems, as well as artificial intelligence-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.
A versatile platform, Exail’s new transoceanic uncrewed surface vessel allows the launch and recovery of a wide range of subsea assets such as remotely operated towed vehicles, inspection class remotely operated vehicles, as well as autonomous underwater vehicles.
Its gondola, located below the surface, can further host a wide range of payloads such as deep-water multibeam echosounders, sub-bottom profilers or acoustic subsea positioning and communication systems.
This makes the new DriX 0-16 especially suited for full ocean depth scientific and hydrographic surveys, geophysical and UXO surveys, as well as subsea infrastructure inspection and surveys that might require the deployment of multiple robots.
“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 minimising human exposure at sea,” according to Exail vice-president of maritime autonomy solutions Olivier Cervantes.
“The introduction of our new DriX 0-16 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.”
Exail undertakes the development of robotics, maritime, navigation, aerospace and photonics technology for civil and defence clients operating in severe environments.
From the deep sea to outer space, Exail expands its capabilities with a full range of robust in-house manufactured components, products and systems. Employing a workforce of 7,500 people worldwide, the company benefits from a global footprint and conducts its business in over 80 countries. Exail was formed by ECA Group and iXblue joining forces in 2022. It is a subsidiary of Exail Technologies, a family-owned company specialising in high technology.
