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85 offered with a single sound velocity profiler. With a single CT sensor it is known as the u5 CT, while combining a fluorometer with the CT defines the u5 CT-F. There is also a CT-F equipped m5, a CT-F+Tu version of this larger vehicle that adds a turbidity sensor, a CT-F+DO that has a dissolved oxygen sensor in place of the turbidity sensor, and the m5 CT-F+Tu+DO with all four sensors. The third set of preconfigured ecoSUBs are the Hydrocarbon Sniffers. The simplest, Lite configuration is offered for both the u5 and m5, which have a single-channel Valeport Hyperion oil in water (OIW) sensor to detect crude oil, along with an altimeter and fast-response temperature sensor. The larger Hydrocarbon Sniffer and Sniffer+ are both fitted with a Seabird Scientific SeaOWL OIW sensor, which measures crude oil, backscatter and chlorophyll-a, while the Sniffer+ adds a DO sensor. Navigation options in order of increasing accuracy and precision include dead reckoning, network localisation and a micro-DVL Doppler velocity log. GPA Seabots exhibited at the show to promote its multi-role SB100 Pro catamaran USV and the Cleaner version that as its name suggests cleans up floating debris, particularly plastic, oil and hydrocarbon spills from marinas and harbours. Designed to provide access to confined and high-risk areas, the SB100 Pro is delivered as a turnkey system that can be transported and deployed by one person. Without options, the composite- hulled vehicle weighs 21 kg and draws 14 cm, measuring 103 x 75 cm x 56 cm and offering a payload of up to 12 kg. Its replaceable 30 Ah 12 V battery pack can be charged in less than 2 hours and powers twin thrusters. These provide a top speed of 2 m/s, a working speed of 1 m/s and an endurance of 3 hours on one charge. To minimise any interruption to operations, the vehicle is designed for quick battery changes, the company quoting a figure of less than 30 seconds. The heart of the navigation system is a GNSS system that provides a true heading reference, with RTK enhancement backed up by a triple redundant IMU, providing the autopilot and the operator with precise position and velocity information. The collision avoidance system includes a laser rangefinder and detects obstacles up to 40 m away. There is also a high-definition FPV video camera that can be supplemented with an underwater camera to allow the operator to see the bottom in shallow water and any objects and structures on it. Underwater situational awareness is also enhanced by a single- or multi- beam echo sounder linked to the RTK system to provide geo-referenced depth measurements. This system can also be used with the bundled software to produce maps. The SB100 Pro can also deploy a sidescan sonar to generate highly detailed and geo-referenced imagery of the seabed and objects on it. Communication with the rugged control station is by wi-fi and 4G, the former with a maximum range of 1.5 km, the latter with a practically unlimited range. Javier Sanchez Barchino said GPA Seabots is also targeting new ideas for payload options for the vehicles. Plans for 2022 include the launch of a new USV based on the SB 100 Pro, with hardware improvements centred on power and processing capacity, and other changes such as new GPS boards and a new controller. iXblue introduced new products such as the FlipiX and the Canopus at the show. The FlipiX is a remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV) designed to be pulled by surface vessels such as the company’s DriX USV, while the Canopus is a new long baseline (LBL) acoustic underwater positioning system. Stephane Vannuffelen explained that the idea for FlipiX, which resembles a small aircraft, grew out of iXblue’s experience in marine unmanned systems for survey work and discussions with customers. “We figured out that combining the DriX and an ROTV would lead to a true next step in terms of improved operational efficiency and reduced operational footprint for survey operations,” he told us. “It allows you to carry out three operations in a single run, meaning hydrographic, geophysical and unexploded ordnance.” He added that the team had to design a very stable towed platform with active control of both altitude Ocean Business 2021 | Show report Unmanned Systems Technology | February/March 2022 GPA Seabots’ SB100 Pro multi-role catamaran