Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has developed Israel”s first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The robotic “HydroCamel II” will be commercially available for use in the military, security, and oil and gas sectors, as well as in environmental applications and marine research.
“The autonomous HydroCamel II integrates state-of-the-art technologies, including high-level maneuvering in six degrees of freedom and an ability to dive almost vertically,” says Prof. Hugo Guterman of the BGU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and head of LAR. “Until now, these capabilities were limited to remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), which must be tethered by an umbilical cable to a host ship for its power and air source. The HydroCamel II is completely autonomous.”
The eight-foot-long HydroCamel II AUV combines full autonomy and maneuverability while enabling quick integration of specialized payloads such as sonars, cameras, sensors, and a specimen collection arm. BGR has begun cooperation with payload manufacturers to supply customers with an integrated solution.