Meet Munin: The New Compact Offshore AUV 

Photo courtesy Kongsberg Maritime.

By Ashley Addington



Kongsberg Maritime launched a new form of AUV at Offshore Europe 2013. MUNIN is the new offshore AUV designed to provide survey accuracy with the ability to collect and receive high quality sonar data. 



Munin has a unique compact design that allows for an easier launch and recovery time from missions and has space for extra batteries if needed, according to the company.  This feature creates the option for missions to last up to 24 hours at depths of up to 4,921 feet. MUNIN weighs only 300 kilograms out of water and has a length between 3 and 4 meters.  



"Munin offers this the ability to carry high-grade survey, navigation and positioning systems that ensure the efficient collection of accurate, reliable high-resolution survey data," Geir Schmidt, vice president AUVs at, - Kongsberg Maritime said in a press release. 



Equipped with Wi-Fi features for better communication, Iridium, and an aided inertial navigation system, Munin is furnished to offer precise locations and imaging while out at sea.  



The system is named after one of Odin’s two ravens mythology. Kongberg Maritime’s Hugin AUV bares the name of the second raven that collects information for the Norse god.