Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Powered by Renewable Energy (Under Development)
The Aquarius USV™ is being developed as a cost-effective Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) or Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) that will incorporate a number of technologies from Eco Marine Power & its strategic partners. These technologies include the patented Aquarius MRE and EnergySail plus high performance marine batteries & lightweight flexible marine solar panels.
Solar Powered Aquarius USV by Eco Marine PowerThe Aquarius USV will be powered by a solar-electric hybrid marine power (HMP) solution which will also feature a solar panel array designed by EMP. On-board batteries will be re-charged via the solar-panel array or via ship or shore power using rapid battery re-charging technology.
The vessel will be fitted with compact low power marine computer systems which will utilise the KEI 3240 platform - this flexible marine computer system architecture has proven itself to be reliable on hundreds of vessels ranging from tugboats to ocean going bulk ore carriers and tankers.
The vessel will also be fitted with a sensor pack including several unique sensors developed by EMP. These sensors will be able to collect data from above and below the waterline and this data can either be stored on-board the vessel and/or transmitted back to a ship or shore office. Data transmission will be possible via Wi-Fi, mobile phone or satellite connections.
The Aquarius USV's shallow draft and low height will allow it to operate on urban waterways, rivers, bays and lakes in addition to being suitable for coastal waters and missions at sea. If needed, the masts can also be lowered (optional) to give the vessel a stealth capability.
Typical missions for the Aquarius USV could include monitoring harbour pollution, oceanographic surveys, maritime park surveillance, port security, coastal border patrols, marine data collection and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
A variation of the Aquarius USV will include a stand-alone version of EMP's unique EnergySail technology in order to extend the vessel's range and allow for additional sensors to be fitted.
EMP is also studying the possibility of developing a robotic version of the Aquarius USV.
The Aquarius USV design study project started in 2011 and has now been re-aligned with EMP's other development projects. Lab testing of technologies to be used for the Aquarius USV has already commenced.
Aquarius USV™ (Preliminary Information)
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* Concept design: Greg Atkinson. EMP. All rights reserved. © 2012 - 2017. Eco Marine Power. Ltd.
Further Reading: Technologies Overview Investor Information
Note: Aquarius MRE, Aquarius USV, EnergySail and Aquarius MAS are trademarks of Eco Marine Power.