Successful Demonstrations at Autonomous Warrior 2018

BlueZone Group project management, technical and engineering staff have completed successful demonstrations at Autonomous Warrior 2018 (AW18) in Jervis Bay NSW 5 to 23 November.

Held under the auspices of the Five Eyes’ The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP), Autonomous Warrior 2018 was led by Defence Science and Technology (DST) and supported by the Royal Australian Navy

Industry, defence science organisations and militaries from five countries examined air, land, sea and cyber systems and their potential for use in complex and contested environments.

“The trials and demonstrations will provide Defence a clearer picture of the future of robotic and autonomous systems and how we might use them to remove people from harm’s way, or multiply our effectiveness, with intelligent systems,” said a Defence spokesperson.

BlueZone Group supported demonstration of several systems for the Autonomous Warrior 2018 Industry Dynamic Exhibition (IDE). The aim of the AW18 IDE was to provide industry with an opportunity to display and exhibit innovation in autonomous and unmanned systems or technologies that may be suitable to support the ADF including in maritime, littoral and land operations, and complex and contested environments – such as combat at sea, regional security, military support and amphibious action.

Approximately 450 people from 42 organisations participated in the event, with 26 of these companies engaged in the IDE and demonstration of 38 unmanned and autonomous platforms. BlueZone was pleased to join with DST, RAN, the Australian Army and other industry partners in a showcase of industry technology and ingenuity. With the maritime focus of Autonomous Warrior at Jervis Bay, Blue Zone demonstrated Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) and two Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) during the IDE.

BlueZone Group supported demonstration of three innovative unmanned maritime systems.

Hydroid Next Generation Remus 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

The Next Generation REMUS 100 was used to assist rapid environmental assessment and mine-like object (MLO) detection tasks as part of an integrated data collection system of systems. BZG, Hydroid and the REMUS 100 NGR also provided support to the DST Group REMUS 600 fitted with the 2G Robotics laser module. Together the collaboration was able to locate, identify and record high resolution data and imagery of MLOs and seafloor features. The REMUS 100 can be used for seafloor survey for detection of mines, and/or smuggled arms.

AW18 was an important demonstration of Next Generation REMUS 100 capability that the RAN will soon operate as components of Deployable Geospatial Survey Teams. Two NG REMUS 100 will be delivered to the RAN in 2019 as part of the SEA1770 Program.

Integrated Z-Boat

The Z-Boat is a USV solution for inshore/littoral surveillance and rapid environmental awareness survey using integrated multibeam sonar and LiDAR systems. The Z-Boat was used to demonstrate remote visual surveillance capabilities using high resolution video, thermal and still cameras. Above and below water rapid environmental assessment and survey tasks were completed including rapid evaluation and de-risking of the nearshore mine threat via integrated USV multibeam sonar system.

Envisaged scenario themes for the Z-Boat include: above and below water survey capabilities to support clandestine insertion from sea; counter arms-smuggling providing positional and feature data relevant to dumped/discarded arms to assist underwater recovery; and shallow water Mine Counter Measures (MCM) – rapid evaluation and de-risking of the nearshore mine threat via integrated USV multibeam sonar system. At the minefield clearance site, the Z-Boat will run an autonomous, multibeam shallow water mine-detection survey providing positional and feature data including mine-like objects.

Microwave and Satellite Links

Supporting demonstration of a remote-control UUV capability, BZG staff worked to establish a complete real-time communications circuit that spanned the globe. The demonstration showed how real-time data from a UUV could be transmitted using satellite links to a land-based control room. This would enable senior commanders to observe real-time data supporting efficient decision making, command and control.

Learn More: REMUS 100 Next Generation Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV)

Learn More: REMUS M3V – High-speed and Low-Cost Micro AUV

Learn More: Z-Boat Marine Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) and Hydrographic Survey capability

A High Resolution Multi Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) image clearly shows a Mine Like Object using the Integrated Z-Boat.

Next Generation REMUS 100 is recovered from a surveillance mission in Jervis Bay.

BlueZone Group showed the NGR REMUS, Integrated Z-Boat and Kailani Buoy as examples of future of robotic and autonomous systems.

BlueZone and Hydroid staff work with DST Group to prepare NG REMUS 100 and REMUS 600 Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.

RADM Quinn, Head of Navy Capability, accepts a New Generation REMUS 100 model from BlueZone Group CEO, Neil Hodges.

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