DEVELOPING THE CONSTELLATION UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLE PROTOTYPE

Vessel navigation through the use of reliable nautical charts is vital to ensure safe passage. Having the ability to complement this with the ability to see accurately both what lies beneath the water and ahead of a vessel in real time provides an added dimension of safety and certainty. Combining the high value and deep draft of modern super and mega yachts with a penchant for exploration creates a tension which can test the availability and accuracy of navigation charts.The development of a 2 metre remote-operated and autonomous-capable surface vehicle with ultra-high-resolution echo-sounder capability provides a unique solution which can open up considerable exploration capability. The ability to produce ultra-high-resolution images and relay these back to the mother vessel in real time enables precise seabed mapping, providing safer navigation. Additionally, it has the capability to deploy personal water-safety devices in situations such as a man-overboard incident.