OceanScan-MST

OceanScan-MST is an innovative developer and manufacturer of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for scientific, commercial and defense applications. Founded as a spin-off from the University of Porto’s Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory (LSTS), the company is committed to creating state-of-the-art solutions that solve today’s most pressing underwater challenges.

LAUV Light Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

One-person portable AUV with low logistical footprint

The LAUV is a lightweight and cost-effective autonomous underwater platform that is designed for deployment, operation and recovery by a single person. Its compact form allows launch from shore, a pier or a small boat without cranes or specialized tools, and a laptop and portable communications hub provide a simple operational setup for one or more vehicles.

Ideal for oceanographic and hydrographic surveys, environmental monitoring, and security and surveillance missions, the LAUV has accumulated thousands of operational hours in deployments worldwide. Its open architecture enables users to integrate additional instruments, actuators, algorithms and behaviors, adapting the platform to their research and survey requirements.

Key specifications include:

• Dimensions: 115–250 cm long; 15 cm hull diameter
• Weight in Air: 15–35 kg
• Depth Rating: 100m & 400m options
• Top Speed: 6 knots
• Endurance: >8 hours at 3 knots typical

Modular design & payload options

Thanks to its modular design and open source software suite, the LAUV can be equipped with a wide variety of different combinations of sensors, payloads and onboard equipment. OceanScan-MST can configure each system during production, selecting navigation, communications, imaging and scientific payload options to match the intended mission.

An external ballast rail allows weights to be easily added or removed, tailoring the vehicle for fresh or saltwater operations.

Mission Planning & Vehicle Control

LAUV’s operator console can be set up on a regular or rugged laptop or PC running OceanScan-MST’s Neptus command and control software. This provides operators with an intuitive solution that covers all stages of the mission lifecycle, including configuration, planning, simulation, execution and post-mission data analysis.

The LAUV Remote app allows users to teleoperate the vehicle and check its status from a smartphone. For operators who prefer physical controls, a joystick can also be connected to the computer running Neptus.

Manta Communications Gateway

Manta is a portable, battery-powered communications hub linking operators and one or multiple LAUVs through wireless and acoustic connections. Its rugged, waterproof enclosure allows installation on a buoy or operation from an open vessel such as a RHIB.

Configuration options include extended-range Wi-Fi for surface communications, an acoustic modem for underwater messaging, cellular connectivity, and Iridium satellite communications. An integrated GPS receiver can display the gateway’s position on the mission map, which is particularly useful during vessel-based operations.

Use Cases

Minehunting

OceanScan-MST delivered three LAUVs to the Danish Navy for mine hunting, equipped with Klein dual-frequency side-scan sonar, iXblue inertial navigation and Nortek DVLs. During sea trials, a pre-deployed sonar target was located with positional uncertainty within 3 m after more than 2.5 hours submerged and over 8 km of travel without external navigation aids.

Coordinated Surveys & Magnetic Target Detection

Exercises with the University of Porto, Portuguese Navy and Portuguese Hydrographic Institute demonstrated coordinated surveying with three side-scan-equipped LAUVs. Separate trials used a LAUV fitted with an Ocean Floor Geophysics self-compensated magnetometer to survey a submerged barrel, alongside a comparable survey using a conventional towed magnetometer.

Oceanographic Research

Integration of Rockland Scientific’s MicroRider sensor package produced the LAMTOV configuration for turbulence microstructure measurements. Demonstrated at Ocean Business 2017, this LAUV variant collected in-situ measurements during a pier survey, providing an example of the platform’s adaptability for specialized scientific instrumentation.