Connecticut-based ThayerMahan, which specialises in autonomous maritime security solutions, has teamed up with France-based iXblue, which specialises in navigation, acoustic positioning and underwater imaging, to provide unmanned survey services
The companies will use iXblue’s DriX unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in North America and other parts of the world.
The companies said they will be able to address a wide range of maritime and survey applications for the offshore renewables and offshore oil and gas markets.
They also plan to offer hydrographic survey services for the dredging sector.
ThayerMahan was founded by retired Admiral Mike Connor in 2016 to promote the use of unmanned autonomous systems for the US Navy and other government departments.
Mr Connor said, iXblue has developed a “rugged, long endurance, unmanned surface vessel that takes ThayerMahan systems to new places.”
The DriX USV has already attracted significant attention from the offshore renewables and oil and gas markets. UK-based Bibby HydroMap recently conducted a demonstration on an offshore windfarm using the French company’s vessel.
The versatile system has the ability to accommodate a hydrographic and geophysical survey payload and to aid positioning of underwater vehicles, facilitating data collection on a variety of marine projects.
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