VTOL and Fixed Wing UAVs, Autopilots, Engines, GCS, Components and Payloads for UAS

USV Designed to Provide Fuel and Cargo Delivery to Offshore Locations

By Mike Ball / 06 Nov 2018
Follow UST

UAVOS unmanned refuelling vessel

UAVOS has announced that it has developed a new Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) that provides a refuelling system to remote and offshore locations beyond inhabited areas. The newly developed solution, which delivers a refuelling hose from a mothership to the shore, will become an alternative to manned boats, which are often unable to get near the coast due to strong waves or other environmental factors.

The unmanned boat is based on a SeaDoo water scooter. As part of the refitting, UAVOS’ automatic control system has been integrated into the vehicle, and a hermetic upper housing and a pneumatic gun with an inertia-free coil for a cable has been specially designed.

The unmanned boat is launched from the refuelling vessel in order to tow a cable, to which the fuel supply hose has been attached, closer to the shore. Without reaching the shore, the boat uses a pneumatic gun to fire the cable, which lands with a parachute at a pre-designated location. An on-shore team uses a winch to pull the fuel hose to shore via the cable and carries out the refuelling. Freight delivery can be also performed in the same way using this system. After completing the mission, the unmanned boat returns to the ship and is hoisted aboard via a crane.

Currently, cable towing is carried out by manned boats. Often safe distance to the shore can be up to 2 km and due to strong waves, surf and other factors, refuelling ships may have to wait a long time for favourable conditions. This complicates mission planning and increases cost of operation.

According to Vadim Tarasov, UAVOS investor and Board member, such a solution will reduce the risks for crews of transport ships when delivering cargo to hard-to-reach coastal areas.

UAVOS’ unmanned boat may be of interest to both special-purpose services and companies that deliver cargo and fuel to remote and offshore locations.

To learn more, contact UAVOS Inc.: Visit Website Send Message View Supplier Profile
Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact
More from UAVOS Inc.