| Brand |
Bluefin Robotics Corporation |
| Product |
Bluefin-21 |
| Vehicle type |
Free-flooded, torpedo-style AUV |
| Total number of AUVs built |
N/A |
| Commercial options |
N/A |
| Weight of AUV in air (kg) |
545 |
| Maximum payload (kg) |
Variable, free-flooded system |
| Freight weight |
Vehicle case (qty 3): 136kg each; battery case (qty 3): 52kg each; plus spares and support equipment |
| Dimensions (l x w x h) (m) |
4 x 0.53 x 0.53 |
| Maximum depth rating (m) |
3000 |
| Number of thrusters: directional/lateral control |
1 |
| Hover capabilities (Y/N) |
N |
| Minimum turning radius (m) |
4 (length of vehicle) |
| Type of launch & recovery system (LARS) used, how the AUV is recovered |
A-frame & winch, crane, ramp |
| Average speed; maximum speed (knots) |
3; 5 |
| AUV crew size |
3 |
| Number of surface computers required for operation |
1 |
| Storage space requirements (size) |
Variable |
| Other requirements |
Bluefin Operator Tool Suite (GUI) (standard), training course (standard) |
| Standard navigation sensors |
INS, USBL, pressure, sound velocity |
| Optional navigation sensors |
IMU, GPS, DVL and compass, pressure |
| If an INS is installed, navigation sensors used to update position during a dive |
All others |
| Standard payload sensors |
Side-scan sonar, SBP, MBES |
| Optional payload sensors |
SAS, SBP, MBES (3D), real-time gradiometer, obstacle avoidance, CTD, fluorometer, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, altimeter, ADCP, electro-optical (still or video), Bluefin abort & release transponder |
| Total energy content of battery (kWh) |
11.1 |
| Nominal battery power (W) |
615 |
| Endurance at nominal power (hours) |
18 hours @ 3.5 knots |
| Battery modules can be swapped (Y/N) |
Y |
| Recharge time from empty (hours) |
6 |
| Acoustic telemetry is fitted (Y/N); baud rate (bits per second) |
Y |
| Radio telemetry is fitted (Y/N); baud rate (bits per second) |
Y |
| Ethernet connection for update; maximum speed |
100Mb/s |
| Type of data sent to the surface |
Detailed health & status |
| Control parameters sent to the AUV |
Mission abort, mission stop, hardware kill, position updates |
| Emergency recovery procedure in the event of a total system failure |
Dropweight, acoustic locator & RDF |
| Current AUV applications |
Shallow water survey, deep water survey, pipeline and engineering survey, ocean floor mapping, environmental monitoring, MCM, ISR, port and harbour security, REA, oceanography, fishery assessment, archaeology, research and development platform |
| Further information |
A true workhorse, the Bluefin-21 is by far the most well-designed, versatile and robust AUV in service today. It is the vehicle of choice for all commercial and military applications, as well as academic research.
Image: Echo Mapper, one of two Bluefin-21 AUVs operated by Fugro Seafloor Surveys, Inc. in Seattle, WA, shown during deployment for surveys for a deep ocean, cold water intake pipeline offshore Hawaii |
