iXblue reveals its first remotely operated towed vehicle

iXblue has launched FlipiX, its first remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV), designed to be operated autonomously from the DriX uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) or from a light vessel.

When combined with the DriX USV, FlipiX can operate down to 50 meters of water depths in its standard version and provides optimal positioning of measurement instruments for data acquisition as close to the seabed as needed.

According to iXblue, FlipiX is said to enhance autonomous survey capabilities and allow the performance of multi-sensor operations in a single run.

“Leveraging our unique expertise in navigation, robotics and shipbuilding, and benefitting from our extensive return on experience deploying our DriX USV on major projects for energy companies and hydrographic institute worldwide, we are committed to offer operators with a more comprehensive ecosystem for autonomous surveying,” said Stéphane Vannuffelen, Marine Autonomy technical director at iXblue.

“We’re convinced that our FlipiX ROTV combined with our DriX USV will bring high efficiency and cost-effectiveness to the industry. It has already gathered a strong interest from major actors from the industry confirming the strong relevance of our new autonomous solution.”

Operating at towing speeds up to 7 knots, the FlipiX ROTV altitude, pitch and roll are autonomously controlled to maintain measuring instruments at a fixed altitude and constant attitude.

This active motion control bestows the ROTV with increased stability and maneuverability, even during U-turns, resulting in enhanced measurement quality in challenging maritime environments and in reduced survey time, iXblue concluded.