2014-04-13
Bluefin 21, Artemis autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is shown on the deck aboard the Royal Australian Navy Australian Defense Vessel (ADV) Ocean Shield. Joint Task Force 658 is supporting Operation Southern Indian Ocean, searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777.
Navy Media Content Services, 4/11/14
According to the manufacturer:The Bluefin-21 is a highly modular autonomous underwater vehicle able to carry multiple sensors and payloads at once. It boasts a high energy capacity that enables extended operations even at the greatest depths. The Bluefin-21 has immense capability but is also flexible enough to operate from various ships of opportunity worldwide
FREE-FLOODED MODULARITY – The vehicle design includes swappable payload sections and battery modules for in-field mission reconfiguration. Subsystems can be quickly accessed for rapid turnaround between missions and also allow for in-field maintenance, accelerating operational tempo.
EFFICIENT WORKHORSE – The Bluefin-21 is an efficient, deep-rated AUV able to execute surveys with demanding requirements typically addressed by larger, more cumbersome platforms. Its small size and ability to be launched and recovered from a simple A-frame or docking head allow it to take advantage of ships of opportunity.
ACCURATE NAVIGATION – The Bluefin-21 uses an INS to provide the best possible navigation accuracy. Dead reckoning drift is typically less than 0.1% of distance traveled, yielding higher quality data. USBL aiding further improves navigation accuracy.
AIR-SHIPPABLE – The vehicle, batteries and support equipment can be broken down and packaged into easily transportable sections, making the system ideal for time-critical and remote operations.