Wednesday 18 March 2020

Cellula Robotics has successfully completed the initial builder’s sea trials for the Solus-LR Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).

Solus-LR is a fuel cell powered long range AUV, capable of 2000km submerged missions; it is currently being built for Defence Research Development Canada under the All Domain Situational Awareness Science and Technology Program.

This first set of sea trials focused on validating basic autonomous behavior including surface and submerged missions in Port Moody off Burrard Inlet, supported by the Cellula Ranger survey vessel.

Over the next month, a suction anchor and variable buoyancy engine module will be added to Solus-LR and a second set of builder’s sea trials will be completed in February. The suction anchor enables Solus-LR to hold station in a low power, quite mode for extended duration missions.

The final set of builder’s trials are scheduled for April 2020 and will see the fuel cell power module integrated to compete a number of long endurance missions.

The project will conclude in the summer of 2020 with a 2000km mission in the Indian Arm. This mission will see Solus-LR completing 10km laps between navigation and communications buoys, providing regular updates to a remote mission control center via under water communications.