Watch New Marine Drone Demonstrating its Capabilities

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An unmanned surface vehicle, the Wave Glider robot, recently demonstrated its capabilities at the UK Royal Navy-hosted Unmanned Warrior Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) exercise, the first-ever large-scale demonstration of marine robotic systems for military applications. As part of the initiative, the marine drone manufacturer Liquid Robotics deployed several of its novel Wave Glider units, demonstrating the ways in which military and security customers can employ the platform to collect ocean data as well as to track submarines, even in extreme sea states.

The units, sensor-hosting autonomous remote crafts, successfully located and tracked an advancing unmanned underwater vehicle and a manned diesel submarine — and also provided a wealth of detailed intelligence to exercise chiefs in real time.

Two additional devices, kitted out with a range of meteorological and oceanographic sensors, were launched in the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic to autonomously collect data around the clock and provide real-time data on the weather and ocean conditions vital for the safe operation of the Unmanned Warrior systems, according to roboticsbusinessreview.com.

Liquid Robotics’ robot has driven the company’s latest moves to enter into a number of collaborative partnerships with marine drone organizations in the U.K. The unmanned surface vehicle manufacturer plans to further extend operations in a country it views as a “known innovator” in the sector.

The Wave Glider has also been used for maritime surveillance — specifically, to detect the presence of surface vessels in an ocean area, like a marine protected area (MPA). For this type of mission, the Wave Gliders are equipped with multiple sensors, above and below the water, to detect vessels and report on ocean and environmental conditions.