ASV’s C-Enduro demonstrates endurance and payload capability in Scotland trials.
The trials took place off the west coast of Scotland and marked the next stage in a project initiated by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in their search for long endurance USVs with greater payload capacity and speed than existing systems for environmental research.
Initial trials in December 2013 saw ASV’s C-Enduro operate autonomously in a protected harbour. This second set of trials put the vehicle to the test in the challenging waters off west Scotland. The selected payload sensors fitted to C-Enduro were a winched Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) sensor, a Wetlab Triplet Puck and an Airmar Meteorological Sensor. ASV worked alongside Planet Ocean Ltd on the sensor and tracking package.
On these trials C-Enduro was fitted with its wind turbine, completing the three pillar power structure, also comprising solar panels and a lightweight diesel generator. Controlled via Iridium™ satellite link, C-Enduro was able to complete multiple remote CTD casts and gather data from the triplet puck and Met sensor during both day and night operations.
The C-Enduro concept was developed under a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) led by NOC and co-funded by National Environment Research Council (NERC), NOC’s parent body, with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL).
The team behind the development led by ASV, includes Hyperdrive Ltd who investigated motor options and power management systems and Cranfield University who conducted research into collision avoidance technologies.
The vessel is now ready for order and ASV is currently working with several lead customers on a variety of exciting applications.
ASV can be found at stand K301 and K251.
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Press Release, March 10, 2014