AWI Completes First Under-Ice Dive in the Arctic with an ecoSUB AUV

ecoSUB Robotics, a leading developer of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology, has revealed that an ecoSUB-µ5 Micro AUV successfully completed the first under-ice mission by Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).

Following several tense minutes beneath Arctic sea ice, the vehicle was safely recovered after successfully collecting upward-looking sonar data using an Impact Subsea ISS360 and complementary light measurements.

ecoSUB Robotics AUV

Designed for ease of use in remote and challenging environments, ecoSUB AUVs are compact, lightweight, and portable by a single operator. Their fully autonomous operation requires minimal logistical support and can be managed over-the-horizon using only a laptop.

The system does not require an internet connection, enabling mission control from virtually any location. Local communication is supported through integrated Wi-Fi and acoustic modems.

ecoSUB vehicles are built with modularity in mind. Each unit features a customizable nosecone and payload bay capable of accommodating a wide range of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and bespoke sensors.

These include 4K video cameras, imaging sonars, high-precision navigation systems, and environmental or water quality sensors. Power is supplied via hot-swappable alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries, which can be easily replaced in the field.

This milestone marks a significant step in expanding the deployment of ocean robots into under-ice environments. The project was supported by the Helmholtz Association’s MUSE infrastructure fund and the Microshift initiative.

While development continues, this successful deployment demonstrates promising progress for under-ice autonomous exploration with ecoSUB AUVs.