Advanced Navigation’s Hydrus underwater robotic system has been sent to the treacherous depths of the Rottnest ship graveyard located in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Western Australia.
Upon unloading its data, the team was thrilled to discover Hydrus had spotted a 64-metre/210-foot shipwreck scattered across the seafloor.
When Hydrus returned to the surface, the team learned the exact coordinates of the ship, then used two Hydrus units to perform three missions, completing the full survey in just under five hours. This level of efficiency is crucial for underwater exploration where costs can heighten quickly.
Hydrus, an AUV small enough to be deployed by a single person, utilizes its advanced navigation and communication sensors to capture 4K video and imagery simultaneously. This video show highlights of the footage gathered by Hydrus.
The results were shared with the Western Australian Museum and Curtin University HIVE for further processing and historical analysis.
“Small enough to be deployed by a single person, Hydrus utilised its advanced navigation and communication sensors to capture 4K video and imagery simultaneously. Upon returning to the surface, the team analysed the data and was thrilled to find Hydrus had examined a 64-metre shipwreck.
“Learning the exact coordinates of the ship, the team used two Hydrus units to perform three missions, completing the full survey in just under five hours. This level of efficiency is crucial for underwater exploration where costs can heighten quickly.” — Peter Baker, Subsea Product Manager at Advanced Navigation, speaking to the exhibition.
