Aquabotix has announced that its Hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has been selected by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). The government-supported geological marine institute will utilize the Hybrid and its technology for ongoing geoscience and energy research in the Korean waters. Aquabotix and KIGAM jointly announced the partnership at the Oceanology International 2018 conference in London.
“We are excited to provide KIGAM with the means to achieve its research goals and uncover vital energy resources hidden under the sea, particularly given the organization’s deep history and dedication to protecting the earth,” said David Batista, CEO of Aquabotix. “We are eager to see how the functionality and brain power of our Hybrid vehicle benefits KIGAM in their quest to create a brighter future for both the Korean peninsula and the world.”
The Company’s Hybrid vehicle can search wide areas using AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) mode (untethered) while conducting detailed inspections using ROV (remotely operated vehicle) mode (tethered). Users can easily switch from AUV mode to ROV mode by attaching the tether to remotely control the vehicle’s six degrees of freedom of motion. When running the vehicle in autonomous operation, all mission planning is completed in an intuitive Windows-based application. The Company’s Hybrid vehicle is designed for use across several sectors, including research, environmental assessment and infrastructure.
“The lightweight feel and ease-of-use of Aquabotix’s Hybrid vehicle will be instrumental in helping us fulfill our research and tasks over multiple missions,” said Jung Kyun Shin, KIGAM senior researcher. “Having the capacity to operate this vehicle in both untethered and tethered modes also allows us to properly explore underwater areas that have previously proved difficult to navigate. We look forward to leveraging the power of hybrid as we work to promote Korea’s sustainable future.”
Founded in 1918, KIGAM is dedicated to boosting sustainable national development by further advancing science and technology. KIGAM pursues this mission by conducting geological surveys inside and outside of Korea and disseminating research outcomes in fields such as mineral resources, geohazards and climate change.
