OceanAlpha has launched two new multi-purpose autonomous marine unmanned surface vessels (USVs), designed specifically to overcome various technical limitations currently faced by marine survey professionals. The new models were introduced at the China Ocean Economy Expo.
These next-generation USVs improve on previous OceanAlpha products, providing a higher degree of modularity with a spacious deck area that improves payload capacity and expandability. The catamaran design provides enhanced stability, allowing the vessels to roll less than 10 degrees under sea state 4 conditions. Both USVs feature hybrid-electric propulsion, resulting in improved endurance for longterm survey missions.
According to Dr. Pu Jinjing, General Manager of OceanAlpha R&D, both products have achieved major breakthroughs in endurance, communication, navigation attitude, measurement capability, safety, and ease of maintenance. Reliable autonomous winch retraction has been achieved with cable lengths of up to 200m, and vibration and noise have been reduced. The signal-to-noise ratio of acoustic equipment can be reduced by more than 20% during operation, and mission endurance has been increased to more than 72 hours, making the vessels ideal for offshore operations.
