Two Technologies—One Comprehensive Solution
The collaboration combines Maritime Robotics’ experience with autonomous surface vessels with Eelume’s highly maneuverable underwater vehicles. When combined as a unified solution, the systems can effectively replace the need for traditional vessels and crews in many operations, while reducing both costs and emissions.
“This is an important step towards more efficient and sustainable maritime operations,” said Eirik Hovstein, Vice President Defense & Security at Maritime Robotics. “By connecting our USVs with Eelume’s flexible AUVs, we can offer a complete autonomous solution for both surface and underwater.”
New Opportunities for Demanding and Risky Maritime Missions
The systems can be remotely controlled from both fixed and mobile control rooms, Remote Operation Centers (ROC). This allows for truly distributed operations, regardless of where in the world they are carried out. Missions can be planned, executed, and monitored without putting crews at sea.
“Our surface vessels are very effective for data collection on the sea surface. When we combine this with Eelume’s underwater vessel, we get a solution that can handle the entire spectrum. This is a real shift in how demanding maritime operations can be carried out,” said Hovstein.
Cuts Costs and Emissions: Both Industry and Defense Win
For Eelume, the collaboration is an important contribution to greener and more cost-effective ocean operations.
“By combining our highly maneuverable AUVs with Maritime Robotics’ electric-powered USVs, we can virtually eliminate CO2 emissions from seabed mapping and monitoring and underwater installations. In addition, we can cut costs dramatically, in some cases by over 90 percent compared to traditional vessel solutions,” said Thomas Nygaard, CEO of Eelume.
He also emphasizes the increasing importance of continuous monitoring: “Continuous situational awareness, rapid response, and scalable solutions are becoming increasingly important in a more complex threat landscape. At the same time, we need better knowledge of the marine environment to make good decisions about resource management.”
Norwegian Strength in Marine Technology
The partnership shows how Norway is taking a leadership role in marine technology, where innovation, autonomy, and sustainability go hand in hand.
Maritime Robotics and Eelume are both members of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and incubator companies in the FI Ocean Space Incubator. Maritime Robotics is also a member of the NORDSEC Defense and Security Cluster, and both companies participated in this year’s Defense Conference.
Together with the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and NTNU Shore Control Lab, they are also contributing to a new project for the development of Remote Operation Centers (ROC), which strengthens Norway’s position within autonomous ocean operations.
