Current acoustic communications setups required for autonomous operations underwater require the use of two modems, one near the surface and one on the subsea vehicle. For the Aquanaut tests conducted last month, the Subnero surface modem was lowered over the side of the vessel to approximately two meters below the sea surface. Test results confirmed the subsea link was maintained continuously between the surface modem and the Subnero modem installed on the Aquanaut vehicle as it submerged from the surface down to 2,300 meters. Not only was this test successful for Nauticus and the Aquanaut vehicle, but it also represents the deepest measured operation of a Subnero modem, confirming their expertise in the subsea communications market.

Nauticus plans to continue Aquanaut vehicle testing down to its designed operational depth of 3,000 meters. It is estimated that the 2,300-meter limit currently certified for Aquanaut operations is deep enough to cover 90% of the oil and gas offshore fields worldwide.

John Gibson, President and CEO of Nauticus Robotics, stated, “Aquanaut represents the future of subsea robotics, and Subnero’s modems are a critical enabler of our vision. These tests proved that reliable underwater communication can be achieved at ultra-deepwater operational depths, giving us the confidence to expand autonomous operations globally.”

Manu Ignatius, CEO of Subnero, added, “We are proud to see Subnero modems perform as expected in deep-water Gulf of Mexico tests. This demonstrates our mission to provide underwater communication solutions that work everywhere—from shallow tropical waters to deep offshore fields.”

A Deployment Spotlight detailing the test results will be available on the Subnero website in the next few weeks.