Bibby HydroMap has partnered with iXblue to bring “DriX”, a new autonomous unmanned surface vessel (AUSV), to the European market.
DriX is specifically designed for both coastal and offshore missions, and manufactured using composite materials. The vessel offers up to 7 days of data acquisition endurance at speeds of up to 14 knots. Multiple navigation options are also available ranging from full autonomy, to autopilot, remote supervisor action, a “follow-me” function and a “hovering” mode, all COLREG compliant, Bibby HydroMap explains.
Bibby HydroMap is excited to make this investment and become the first adopter of DriX in the UK.
iXblue has developed DriX over the past 12 months with aim to revolutionise the hydrographic survey market.
Guillaume Edeline , business development manager at iXblue, said: “For us at iXblue, teaming up with Bibby HydroMap seemed only natural given the number of values both companies share. We are more than happy to have this trusted partner committing to this new approach to the hydrographic survey market, and we are very much looking forward to their operational feedback and technical guidance.”
Initially mobilised with a dual-head Teledyne RESON SeaBat T50 integrated multibeam echosounder system, DriX will be available to Bibby HydroMap’s existing and new customers from June 2018.
DriX will be used to supplement existing survey capability across projects undertaken by Bibby HydroMap, and performance information will form part of the continued development of the asset.
“DriX is at the forefront of industry innovation,” said Tom Davenport , operations manager at Bibby HydroMap. “We are proud to be able to offer this revolutionary survey platform to our customers, and we are confident that it will help shape the future in methodologies of survey data collection.”