ECA Group’s USV INSPECTOR MK2 goes wireless

ECA Group’s USV, is now able to transfer data of modules and communicate with others unmanned vehicles. Featuring this new capability, the Unmanned Surface Vehicle INSPECTOR can be used as an intelligent docking system for underwater drones systems such as AUVs or ROVs, allowing them to be automatically deployed and recovered: it enables recharging and data download, as well as fast transits.

Fitted with acoustic modem and short baselines for underwater communications and positioning, the USV allows underwater inspection and intervention to be supervised by an operator based on a safe spot.

Last, the Unmanned Surface vehicles equipped with down looking sonars are the ideal platforms for detection of in volume mines as well as obstacles (such as nets) for safe AUV navigation.

These new communication solutions for USV Inspector meet requirements such as:

• Adaptation/reconfiguration to the customer/mission characteristics
  • Compatibility with a multitude of antennas (directivity, gain),
  • Online reconfiguration according to Quality of Service
  • Latency vs. data rate real time mitigation
• Large frequency spectrum : from  Ultra high frequency (UHF) to Supra High Frequency (SHF)
• Variety of possible communication architectures (See below: ECA Unmanned Maritime Vehicle Interoperability):
  • Point To Point (PTP),
  • Point To Multi Point (PTMP)
  • Multi Point Interconnection [MESH] ¹
• Comply with main standards :
  • NATO,
  • National,
  • Civilian : Industrial Scientific and Medical band (ISM)
• Fulfill cybersecurity requirements

¹ : A mesh network is a network topology in which each node relays data for the network. All mesh nodes cooperate in the distribution of data in the network.

ECA Unmanned Maritime Vehicle Interoperability

The USV wireless link provides data bandwidth necessary to operate the USV and his mission modules up to:

• a maximum Line Of Sight (LOS ) distance (typically, with an ashore antenna height of 15 meters, a range of 10 nautical miles can be reached),
• or significant Non Line Of Sight (NLOS) range due to maritime traffic or land masking (typically, 10 nautical miles range is also reached despite a 50m height obstacle)