According to PR Newswire, Cellula Robotics announced the successful completion of various demonstration missions using the H2 fuel cell powered autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), Solus-LR.
The missions, executed in Vancouver's Indian Arm inlet on July 15th, demonstrated the autonomous launch of a micro-AUV from Solus-LR while submerged and underway. Following the launch, the micro-AUV surfaced and transmitted a status message to Solus-LR's command and control center via Iridium satellite. The operation was the first of its kind and demonstrated near real-time, over-the-horizon communications from a submerged AUV.
Built on a research and development project originally sponsored by DRDC under the all-domain situational awareness science and technology program that developed Solus-LR, the mission re-enforced the capabilities and potential of a long-range, H2 fuel cell powered AUV designed for submerged missions more than 2,000 km.