General Dynamics Mission Systems and General Dynamics Electric Boat have successfully showcased “multiple mission command, control and communication capabilities” connecting a UUV from Bluefin Robotics and a Blackwing model UAS from AeroVironment with a simulated AN/BYG-1 submarine combat control center ashore. A Stackable Air-powered Launch System (STAPLS) intended for use aboard submarines was also used during the demonstrations. The goal of the demonstrations, which were a part of the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) 2017 that took place at the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, Rhode Island, was to provide “available solutions to the communications challenges of operating in a contested, undersea environment.”

Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc.’s Phantom T4H remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has successfully completed an inspection of the intake riser at Cherry Lake Dam near Yosemite in California. During the inspection, the ROV successfully chronicled the “state of the dam’s water intake riser and the position of the gates at a depth of 258 feet (78.6m),” which is approximately a quarter of the ROV’s rated capability. A Dynamic Positioning (DP) capable triple pontoon boat with a forward mounted ROV Launch and Recovery System (LARS) was used during the inspection, as it sent the ROV to the intake riser’s coordinates, while maintaining a steady position.

DNV GL surveyors have conducted the classification society’s first offshore UAS survey. The survey was conducted in the North Sea, on the semisubmersible vessel Safe Scandinavia, which supports Statoil’s drilling operations off the coast of Norway. As a part of the intermediate survey, DNV GL’s UAS pilots checked Safe Scandinavia’s fairleads and their connection with the vessel’s two columns. “This was a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our drones’ abilities to check the condition of remote external components in challenging offshore conditions,” says Cezary Galinski, Project Manager Classification Poland at DNV GL.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the world’s first crewless, autonomously operated ship is scheduled to launch in late 2018. Known as the Yara Birkeland, the 100-container, electric ship is designed to “navigate itself around other boat traffic and to dock on its own,” using the Global Positioning System, radar, cameras and sensors. The ship is being jointly developed by two Norwegian companies, Yara International ASA and Kongsberg Gruppen ASA. Yara International ASA is an agriculture firm, while Kongsberg Gruppen ASA builds guidance systems for civilian and military uses.