The ECA Group has secured first order for its next-generation A18 autonomous underwater robot from an undisclosed customer.
According to the company, the robot will be delivered in 2016, and it will cost several million euros.
After several successful A9 orders in 2013 and 2014, this export sale is a first for the ECA Group’s latest autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The sale was made shortly after the vehicle was marketed in October 2014, even before the end of the development stage.
The new A18 range comprises robots of 350kg to 650kg that can operate at depths of up to 3,000 metres and travel underwater for more than 24 hours.
The robot can be used for hydrographic surveys, oceanographic research, exploitation of the natural resources of the seabed, and even search and rescue operations. They can be deployed from a light naval platform from 12m, using different launching and retrieval systems.