OPT has successfully demonstrated autonomous docking, charging, and redeployment of its maritime drone, the WAM-V® autonomous surface vehicle. The system allows a vehicle to approach a dock, secure itself, recharge, and return to operation without human intervention, in turn addressing a key limitation in offshore autonomy.
The Company is advancing this capability for near-term integration with its PowerBuoy® platform, creating offshore “charging points” that can support continuous operations at sea. Over time, these systems are expected to form a distributed marine charging network of its own and other maritime drones and electric boats.
“Extending time on station while reducing the need for manned support is critical to scaling offshore autonomy,” said Philipp Stratmann, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Power Technologies. “Docking and charging is an integral step forward in making these systems practical and cost-effective for customers.”
OPT is also progressing a cutting-edge next-generation maritime resilience enhancement upgrade to its WAM-V platform through its next-generation system architecture program, focused on improving system compatibility, simplifying upgrades, enabling increased endurance, and supporting a broader range of customer payloads.
These efforts, combined with continued advances in autonomy software, uniquely position OPT to deliver integrated solutions that support persistent offshore operations across defense and commercial markets.
For additional information about OPT, visit: https://oceanpowertechnologies.com/
