Celebrations at ACUA Ocean’s ceremony for first-in-class USV featuring VOYAGER
Robosys Automation’s CSO Nigel Lee was delighted to attend the naming ceremony of ACUA Ocean’s new unmanned surface vessel (USV) at the UK’s marine robotics hub at Turnchapel Wharf in Plymouth, UK.
The Pioneer, as she is known, was designed by Ad Hoc Marine Designs and built by Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) and is regarded as the world’s most advanced oceanic USV. The USV has been designed for ocean monitoring and data collection, providing a stable open ocean platform-as-a-service with the capacity, stability, and power to deploy sensor and system payloads.
Rigorously tested by the University of Southampton, the USV is uniquely designed to withstand the challenges of oceanic operations through its SWATH hull design, delivering enhanced stability and readiness for rapid deployment.
The collaborative focus combined the UK’s foremost maritime specialists, which includes Ad Hoc Design, Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC), RAD Propulsion, in addition to Robosys Automation.
Pioneer controls and its propulsion systems are integrated with Robosys Automation’s VOYAGER Vessel Control Software, which was showcased and being demonstrated in ACUA Ocean’s dedicated Remote Operations Centre (ROC) at the event.
Since 2024, Robosys has partnered with ACUA Ocean as it undertakes a phased approach of integrating the Voyager AI vessel control software with its hybrid electric and hydrogen propulsion systems.
The wholly unmanned craft is designed to self-manage itself and its onboard safety critical systems, supported by a dedicated remote operative who will be constantly monitoring its missions and who can fully override any controls and systems whenever required.
Thanks to Robosys’ control system featuring a OEM-recommended computing unit, the considerable onboard control architecture is efficiently handled, with built-in fail safes. As Robosys’ VOYAGER is industry-agnostic therefore the software integrates with electric, petrol, diesel and hydrogen propulsion and ancillary systems.
VOYAGER facilitates full vessel control of the USV via ACUA Ocean’s ROC (or a mothership). Initially designed to conform with Level 3 Autonomy, the USV can swiftly ramp up to full Level 4 autonomy in the future using VOYAGER AI as Robosys has already received regulatory approvals from the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee’s regulatory framework for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS).
The event was attended by representatives from all aspects of marine, space, innovation, defence, and commerce, including; Innovate UK, Marine Institute, University of Plymouth, Maritime South West, Force Development Services, National Centre For Coastal Autonomy, Plymouth Marine Laboratories (PML), The Crown Estate, RAD Propulsion, National Shipbuilding Office, Satellite Applications Catapult, UK Department of Transport, Thales, Babcock, Aluminium Marine Consultants, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, UK Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy, BP, BMT, Sulmara, Qinetiq, Connected Places Catapult, Society of Maritime Industries, and Rolls Royce.
The ACUA Ocean USV will now commence extensive sea trials in readiness for her forthcoming operations.