Inmarsat has supplied hybrid connectivity to an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for a trial of operations in the UK
Sea-Kit International is using a combination of satellite and mobile phone networks from Inmarsat for communications with its new USV Maxlimer.
Inmarsat said its network can switch between its Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band VSAT, FleetBroadband L-band communications over satellite, and with long-term evolution (LTE) networks through Inmarsat’s Fleet LTE and satellite services.
Inmarsat said these services together will enable USVs to be further developed and tested.
Sea-Kit started trials with Maxlimer in September off the coast of Plymouth, UK. This project required installation of an Intellian-manufactured GX antenna and Fleet LTE hardware to join an existing Intellian FleetBroadband antenna on the 12-m autonomous vessel.
UK-based Sea-Kit expects to prove USVs can complete tasks faster, more efficiently and with reduced risk to personnel than conventional crewed vessels.
It is trialling its technology to run and remotely control a USV through a series of demonstrations for maritime defence, security and commercial stakeholders from its base in Tollesbury, Essex.
Inmarsat Maritime sales director for offshore energy Scott Middleton said the trial with USV Maxlimer “will be a significant stepping-stone for separated network solutions that ensure reliability, cyber resilience and high-data traffic, while selecting bandwidth for the most cost-effective USV operations at all times.”
He added this is an “opportunity to demonstrate a new phase in technological development to support the over-the-horizon operations, endurance and oceangoing abilities of USVs.”
Sea-Kit operations director Ashley Skett acknowledged other partners enabling this USV trial, including Genasys Inc, iXblue and Norbit Subsea.
He expects Inmarsat’s services to “increase data capabilities in developing over-the-horizon control capability and push the boundaries of our USV design.”
In July 2021, Sea-Kit obtained the first unmanned marine systems certificate from Lloyd’s Register.
Inmarsat is developing connectivity for autonomous vessels in the long term through its Orchestra initiative. This will bring together Inmarsat’s existing geosynchronous satellites, including GX and those for L-band communications, with low earth orbit satellites and terrestrial 5G into an integrated, high-performance solution.
Inmarsat said this will result in a dynamic-mesh network to deliver high-performance connectivity to areas such as in busy ports and comprehensive communications for autonomous-vessel navigation.
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