Jane's : ECA Group' s UMIS systems keep men off the minefield
At the occasion of NAVDEX, ECA Group showcased its unmanned robotics solutions. Among them, the brand-new UMIS systems, its collaborative system of surface and underwater drones to carry out Mine Counter Measures Missions.
Published on Jane's Website, February 2017
Written by RICHARD SCOTT
ECA Group unveiled its new UMIS (Unmanned MCM Integrated Systems) suite, which brings together unmanned surface vehicle, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), unmanned air vehicle, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technologies together in a single ‘system of systems’. It enables to increase simultaneously the tempo of MCM operations and safety by keeping crews away from the mine danger area.
UMIS approach offers many of advantages over traditional MCM methods. These include: the ability to collect high-resolution sonar images using AUVs that can remain stable at an ideal height over the seabed; the ability to use non-specialist mothership platforms, saving expenses from acquiring a dedicated low-signature minehunters; and faster coverage rates, enabled by the ability to use multiple robotic vehicles to perform detection and identification in parallel.
ECA Group’s Inspector Mk2 USV is a key component of UMIS, providing the means by which other robotic detection and neutralisation vehicles can be delivered into the minefield. The MCM mothership remains at a ‘standoff’ distance outside of the danger area.
The use of a Unmanned Surface vehicles (USVs) has three major advantages :
- Acts as an intelligent docking system for AUVs and ROVs, enabling these vehicles to be deployed and recovered automatically for recharging, data download, and transit.
- Provides an intelligent gateway between the surface and underwater worlds; it can be equipped with satellite, radio and wi-fi for communications, as well as an acoustic modem and short baselines for underwater communication and positioning.
- Equipped with its own forward-looking high-resolution sonar, giving it the ability to detect in-volume mines as well as obstacles to allow for safe Autonomous Underwater vehicles (AUVs) navigation.
Other key components of UMIS include :
- A9-M AUV or A18-M AUV (fitted with a high-resolution sonar to capture accurate seabed imagery, enabling the detection and classification of mine-like objects)
- SEASCAN MK2 ROV for identification; and the
- K-STER C which is an expendable mine neutralisation system.
Discover ECA Group's UMIS solution