An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) powered by fuel cells will soon be on its way to the US Navy.
Houston-based Cellula Robotics USA has been chosen to supply the service with its Guardian AUV, a subsea system designed for long endurance missions made from off-the-shelf materials.
It can remain submerged for over 45 days at ranges of up to 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles), enabling extended deployments to large underwater regions.
Its modular payload bays can house an array of sensors and up to 5,000 liters (1,321 gallons) worth of mission equipment.
Cellula describes the AUV as a reliable solution for anti-submarine warfare, while it can also perform seabed operations and take on surface intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Its fuel cell can be swapped for a battery setup, which gives the system 20 days of endurance over a 2,650-kilometer (1,647-mile) range.
CAMP Initiative
Guardian’s selection falls under Cellular’s contract with the Defense Innovation Unit as part of the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) initiative.
The effort calls for large underwater vessels that can carry payloads over contested environments, requiring systems to be capable of autonomous travel over GPS-denied terrain.
“This award underscores the trust placed in our technology, the strength of our growing US team and our shared dedication to advancing maritime systems that provide operational advantage to the operational stakeholders,” said Cellula Robotics CEO Neil Manning.
