| Brand |
International Submarine Engineering Ltd |
| Product |
Explorer |
| Vehicle type |
AUV |
| Total number of AUVs built |
30 |
| Commercial options |
5000 |
| Weight of AUV in air (kg) |
Approximately 1,200 |
| Maximum payload (kg) |
Approximately 125 |
| Freight weight |
N/A |
| Dimensions (l x w x h) (m) |
Length: 5.5 to 7; diameter: 0.72 |
| Maximum depth rating (m) |
5000 |
| Number of thrusters: directional/lateral control |
Single propeller with rear hydroplanes for directional control |
| Hover capabilities (Y/N) |
N/A |
| Minimum turning radius (m) |
10 |
| Type of launch & recovery system (LARS) used, how the AUV is recovered |
Crane or ramp, can also be launched from shore |
| Average speed; maximum speed (knots) |
Cruising: 3; max. 5 |
| AUV crew size |
3 |
| Number of surface computers required for operation |
2: surface control computer and mission planning workstation supplied with vehicle |
| Storage space requirements (size) |
6 m (20 ft) ISO container (supplied as an option with the vehicle) |
| Other requirements |
N/A |
| Standard navigation sensors |
IXSEA PHINS, Teledyne RDI Workhorse 300kHz DVL, Sound Ocean Systems DGPS, Kongsberg 1007 altimeter, IXSEA GAPS transponder, Paroscientific Digiquartz depth sensor |
| Optional navigation sensors |
Kearfott INU, IXSEA Posidonia transponder, Marine Electronics 6201 Dolphin OAS |
| If an INS is installed, navigation sensors used to update position during a dive |
USBL, LBL, GPS |
| Standard payload sensors |
EdgeTech 2200M modular side-scan sonar and SBP, Kongsberg EM2000 MBES, Seabird CTD |
| Optional payload sensors |
EdgeTech 4700 DFX side-scan sonar, L-3 Klein AUV 5000 V2 side-scan sonar, gravimeter, mass spectrometer, Imagenex Delta T 3D sonar, video and still camera |
| Total energy content of battery (kWh) |
Single battery tray: 17.6kWh; double battery tray: 35.2kWh; triple battery tray: 52.8kWh |
| Nominal battery power (W) |
1.6kWh per module |
| Endurance at nominal power (hours) |
Approximately 28 to 83 hours depending on the number of battery trays installed |
| Battery modules can be swapped (Y/N) |
Y |
| Recharge time from empty (hours) |
5 to 10 hours depending on power supply |
| Acoustic telemetry is fitted (Y/N); baud rate (bits per second) |
Yes; up to 300 bps (optional second system for mission data up to 9,600 bps) |
| Radio telemetry is fitted (Y/N); baud rate (bits per second) |
Up to 420 kbps |
| Ethernet connection for update; maximum speed |
100Mb hardwired ethernet link |
| Type of data sent to the surface |
Standard: position data, vehicle and mission status; optional: snapshot mission data |
| Control parameters sent to the AUV |
Position updates, mission changes, abort commands |
| Emergency recovery procedure in the event of a total system failure |
In the event of a total power loss, the vehicle will surface and the emergency beacons will activate. An optional parking sphere is available to park the AUV on the sea floor |
| Current AUV applications |
Oceanographic and hydrographic survey; pipeline pre-lay and post-lay survey; MCM; REA |
| Further information |
Explorer is a customisable modular AUV that is easy to use, delivering high-quality data. With low operating costs it can be operated from almost any ship over 20m long |
