The pace of USV advancement is primarily being driven by major defense, offshore energy, and science-focused entities, all seeking to establish new and validated infield procedures that place humans ‘on’ the loop, as opposed to in it.
USVs are proving instrumental, with marine technologists in constant pursuit of the optimal balance—the marine engineering sweet spot—between operational utility and mission endurance.
USV DEVELOPER FROM DOWN UNDER
Australian outfit Ocius (Latin for “fleet”), headquartered in Sydney, is one such USV developer leading the charge. Following a rebrand in 2014, Ocius (formerly Solar Sailor) made the strategic pivot into USV R&D, and the team began working on uncrewed solar-, wind-, and wave-powered vessels, which resulted in a Capability Technology Demonstrator (CTD) award from the Defence Science and Technology Group in 2015.
This helped fuse a long-standing partnership with Thales, which kicked off with the creation of a 5.6 m prototype USV, AKA Bruce, for ASW ops in 2017.
Additional innovation contracts followed, including a $5.5M contract in 2020 to build five next-gen Bluebottle USVs and operate them in Australia’s remote North. This exceeded expectations and now Ocius is under an acquisition contract with Navy for a further five by June 2023, the first 3 having been delivered.
POWER, PAYLOAD, PERFORMANCE
Bluebottles have proven that they can operate in sea state 5, launchable from a conventional boat ramp or deck crane, and—most notably—are powered by solar, wind, and wave energy.
Harnessing energy from the surrounding environment hinges on the USV’s patented solar sail that, when deployed, can capitalize on solar and wind sources and when not required folds into the deck like the wing of a bird. Its custom rudder flippers, which steer, guide, and generate forward thrust from the pitching of thevessel in the ocean waves.
Multiple sensor suites are available (integrated into the hull or supported by the comms mast) and are supported by a networked communication system to enable live event tracking.
SCALING THE FUTURE
Over the last 15 months, Ocius USVs have completed 25,000 NM—unescorted— in Australia’s EEZ, with full approval by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
Right now, Ocius is continuing to work with Thales, testing new thin line arrays deployed to significant and varying depths from the Bluebottle ‘reel in the keel’ winch. Ocius is also under contract with Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence CRC, UNSW, Australian Maritime College, and Australian Border Force on various USV-related projects, with details to be released in due course.
Speaking exclusively to ON&T, Ocius CEO Robert Dane, said: “This is a very busy and rewarding time in Ocius’ journey to build and field superior, 100% Australian-made USVs capable of stripping away the logistical challenges—and of course costs—associated with relying on fossil fuels as a power source. At Ocius, we like to think we’ve advanced uncrewed marine technology to handle some of the toughest at-sea conditions and currents in the world, culminating in a fleet of lean, green, and mean USVs for all sorts of dull, deep, and dangerous operations.”
This story was originally featured in ON&T Magazine’s April 2023 issue. Click here to read more.
