Var Matin: ECA Group will supply a new underwater robots for Ifremer

Monday, February 27 2017

ECA Group was chosen to develop an ultra-deep autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) withing the framework of a contract with Ifremer, The brand-new AUV named "A6K" will be able to perform survey and inspection tasks and reach 6000 meters depth.

Published on Var Matin, February 2017

Read the article (French)

"A yellow high-techtoy, worthing more than two million euros. This is basically the amount of the contract that Eca Group, a subsidiary of the Gorgé group, has just landed for the design of a drone for the Research Institute for the Exploration of the Sea (Ifremer).

A nice sum. It must be said that this is not really the first robot to come. This AUV (for Autonomous Underwater vehicle) is a jewel of technology. The so-called "A6K", will be able to reach a depth of 6,000 meters in order to map the oceans. For scientific research, but also the offshore industry.

High Performance Exploration
The equipment will be used by Ifremer for "deep-sea mining exploration, oil and gas pipeline inspections, rescue missions and mineral exploration", explains Claude Cazaoulou, commercial director And business development of Eca Group, at the La Garde robotics center.
In fact, the design of the drone has already started in the industrial zone of Toulon Est, where Eca Group is based. As the developer, Ifremer oversees the development of the new AUV, thanks to its expertise in engineering and R & D, as well as technical and naval resources.

"Innovative in its design, autonomy or navigation capabilities, the system will also deploy a full range of scientific sensors," explains Jan Opderbecke, head of the submarine systems unit at Ifremer Méditerranée in Brégaillon.

The AUV will facilitate the production of georeferenced representations of marine environments in deepwater, high resolution and multi-parameter. "In short, extremely accurate mappings, allowing the acquisition of acoustic, optical, physical and chemical properties and laser scanning imagery. The first deep-sea dives are scheduled for 2019. "A6K" will then enrich the collection of submarine gear of the Institute. "It will be deployed from oceanographic research vessels in missions involving other deepwater intervention vehicles, starting with our Victor 6,000 ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and our Nautile submersible," continues Jan Opderbecke. All these devices are expected to be able to exchange data in real time.

Discover ECA Group AUV solutions