A first-of-its-kind project to develop a network of ocean robots to assure the operations of submersible fleet assets has launched this month. It follows a successful funding bid with UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), between ZeroUSV, Oshen and MarineAI.
As underwater uncrewed assets (XLUUVs) are increasingly used and become part of the navy’s future fleet, a key future requirement is maintaining contact with and ensuring the status of underwater assets without relying on direct, high bandwith and detectable communications.
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Passive acoustic network
By deploying a constellation of Oshen’s robust C-Star vessels, the project creates a “passive acoustic network” capable of picking up covert signals from platforms like the XV Excalibur. The XV Excalibur is a 12-metre-long, 19-tonne XLUUV developed by the Royal Navy and MSubs under Project Cetus. Unveiled and handed over in 2025, this autonomous submarine is being used for strategic testing and maritime missions, including reconnaissance and espionage.
The solution channels level 4+ autonomous deployment, passive acoustic sensing and distributed communications into a cohesive system, to deliver a novel and scalable means to support and enhance submersible operations such as critical national infrastructure monitoring, defence operations and environmental monitoring.
During the trials, ZeroUSV’s Oceanus12 will autonomously transport and launch a constellation of Oshen “C-Stars” over an area of sea, to form a network of acoustic sensing that can pick up covert signals from XV Excalibur. MarineAI’s involvement will ensure the C-Star launch system is integrated with the GuardianAI suite on board the Oceanus12.
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Confirming asset presence and progress
The aim is to demonstrate a practical method for confirming asset presence and progress during underwater missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, seabed mapping and the monitoring of subsea infrastructure.
The complexity of multi-platform integration and co-ordinated autonomy goes beyond incremental improvement, proposing a new operational concept to support underwater operations for the Royal Navy and allied forces.
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Key tasks
UK and allied defence forces utilise advanced submersible and seabed assets, such as XV Excalibur, to perform numerous key tasks, including persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) of national critical infrastructure sites such as key subsea cables or pipelines, future military date gathering (FMDG) campaigns to map key areas of seabed, as well as to perform anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions.
Matthew Ratsey, cofounder and managing director at ZeroUSV: ‘Underwater operations depend on knowing where assets are and whether they’re operating as intended, but direct communications aren’t always desirable or possible. This project lets us explore a different approach, using Oceanus12 to place a small constellation of surface vessels that can listen passively and provide assurance without compromising the mission.’
‘Wide area, persistent monitoring only works if the sensing platforms are robust, simple to deploy and able to reliably complete durations over multiple months,’ adds Anahita Laverack, CEO at Oshen. ‘C-Stars were designed for exactly that kind of role.’
Also read: ‘Autonomy is key to secure critical subsea infrastructure’
From design to sea trials
The UKDI-funded programme will run through an initial design, integration and sea-trial phase, with the findings expected to inform future concepts for UK and allied underwater missions.
Picture: ZeroUSV, OSHEN and MarineAI have secured UKDI support to develop and trial a new autonomous sensing capability for underwater operations (picture by project partners).
