UxV Surveying

A Networked Uncrewed Robotic Vessel Fleet

The sea is increasingly becoming an economic area for us. It provides food, raw materials and wind energy. Pipelines and cables run on the seabed, maritime infrastructure needs to be built and maintained. With so-called extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUV), this work can be carried out weather-independently, more safely, more quickly and more cost-effectively. In this way, our highly innovative marine technology is making an important contribution to the sustainable and environmentally friendly use of the oceans and is helping to meet the challenges of climate change. This is innovation made in Germany.

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ surface and underwater vehicles (UxVs) are essentially based on in-house developments that collectively form a fleet of uncrewed robotic vessels. All robots are modular in design to accommodate survey-specific equipment performing services for offshore, nearshore and harbour operations. The holistic modular design enables the exploration, demonstration and validation of novel on-demand robot-as-a-service concepts.

We offer a range of already validated maritime assistance services. In addition, we design, develop and implement the robotic solutions and services that meet your specific requirements and enable your staff to supervise the execution of tasks.

XLUUV

Extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have an innovative origin: the ambitious research and development project named Modifiable Underwater Mothership (MUM).

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is developing a modular kit for XLUUV, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. By modular configuration, the vehicle adapts to the users’ needs. Continuous risk reduction and technology maturation activities pave the way for successful user adoption. A 25-metre full-scale demonstrator vehicle will start trials in 2024. Part of the project is the development of a regulatory framework in accordance with various authorities to enable registration by flag states.

Operational concept

The XLUUV will deploy from the harbour without a support vessel, supervised by shore-based human operators. Sophisticated mission planning and autonomy enable the vehicle to conduct most of the mission submerged and autonomous. Human operators supervise or control critical mission steps when the XLUUV is either surfaced or has deployed a communication buoy.

System concept

A vehicle alone cannot solve the complex and comprehensive missions of the modern maritime sector. Our XLUUV is not just a vehicle, but a system able to fulfil a wide variety of underwater scenarios. Modularity is the key to addressing the variety of tasks. The XLUUV is composed of almost freely configurable base and mission modules, enclosed by a hydrodynamic casing. The combination of modules enables the system to fulfil different types of missions as well as to scale its capabilities in endurance or payload capacity.

Base modules for the pure operation of the vehicle:

trim, control and hovering system
fuel cell system
propulsion system
communication system
control system