Unmanned underwater vehicles are used for a wide variety of tasks. They are employed in the military and border protection sectors, as well as in environmental monitoring, scientific research and fisheries. Not to mention securing critical infrastructure such as pipelines, power cables and data cables. With the Phantom 2, the English company Dynautics has introduced an uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) that scores points with its modular design and great flexibility.
Market success depends on efficiency, reliability and flexibility
If unmanned systems are to succeed in the market, they must prove themselves as tools that can reduce costs, optimise results or increase the efficiency of operational processes. For many users, it is therefore important to be able to perform as many tasks as possible with a single carrier platform. After a long period of development efforts focusing on propulsion systems, battery and navigation technologies, and data acquisition sensors for unmanned underwater vehicles, the focus is now shifting to reliability, range and cost efficiency.
Modular design as a response to evolving operational requirements
To address this need, the English company Dynautics pursued a modular design concept in the development of the 3-metre-long Phantom 2 UUV, which resembles a torpedo in appearance. This is intended not only to increase flexibility in terms of transport and usage scenarios, but also to reduce the time required for maintenance and conversion work. This is because payloads or damaged segments can be replaced quickly and easily.
A proven platform adapted for larger dimensions
The basic design is essentially based on the significantly smaller Phantom 1, which Dynautics developed for the US Navy in 2019. Control is handled by the company's own autopilot technology, which has been adapted to the changed dimensions and physical properties of the larger ‘submarine’ with the help of extensive simulator tests. With energy management in mind, special firmware has been developed to prioritise critical systems should this become necessary. Balancing the unmanned system posed a particular challenge. This is because it was designed to float on the water surface with its nose pointing upwards so that it can communicate with a vehicle on the surface. This enables data to be downloaded and map material or mission updates to be uploaded without having to remove the system from the water.
> This article was written in cooperation with Drones, the trade magazine with Insights for the Uncrewed Future. www.drones-magazine.com
