UK using robots to foil underwater threats (VIDEO)

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and industry partners have adapted and tested a commercially available remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for the Royal Navy to prevent sabotage and remove potential threats.

As informed, Dstl has incorporated or developed a number of systems to enable the ROV to detect unexploded ordnance and remotely place explosive charges to enable safe neutralization. Alford Technologies, Atlantas Marine, Sonardyne and ECS Special Projects are among the industry partners involved.

According to the officials, the robot can operate at depths greater than divers can reach, and it can also work there safely for much longer.

The new technology and systems developed will work in partnership with other robots to scan the seabed for hazards and will be able to deal with them once one is spotted.

The robot can be launched from a ship or a shoreline and is operated remotely, feeding video and sonar images back to the operators. They will then be able to remotely deal with underwater hazards in relative safety.

“This technology would be a valuable toolset for keeping our Armed Forces safe whilst providing the public with value for money,” Dstl explosives engineer John explained.

“This unique capability with its sensors, tools and cameras will give operators a real time ability to deal with these underwater hazards in a safe, effective and efficient way.”

Trials have taken place at Horsea Island in Portsmouth, Portland Harbour, South Wales, and Norway.

To remind, Dstl, together with military personnel from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force (RAF), recently conducted the ‘largest ever’ multi-domain artificial intelligence (AI) trial, bringing together land, sea, and air equipment. Specifically, for the Royal Navy, AI technologies developed through these trials are expected to enhance maritime surveillance, improve threat detection in complex sea environments, while enabling faster decision-making during naval operations.