51 and control), full autonomy system, post-mission analysis tools, a web-based mission planner and a data platform designed for global operations. Even sonars were custom-designed with their vendors to create the most accurate, modular and highly portable AUV for the kinds of data-gathering missions that Bedrock’s customers wanted. Seven of Bedrock’s AUV have been built so far. It measures 2.4 m long, weighs 60 kg in air, and moves at an operating speed of 3 knots. As well as its 300 m depth rating, it typically operates for up to 10 hours before needing to recharge, which Chiau believes is significant endurance for an AUV of this size and payload capabilities (with 30-40% of the mass being survey sensors). As the AUV is not Bedrock’s product to be sold – ocean data is – each of the seven that have been built and operated has its own name, corresponding to its colour or serial number to simplify operational identification. A white unit is named Beluga, while one with serial number 007 is called James Bond and a yellow unit is Oppenheimer (for the nuclear scientist’s association with Yellowstone). Development history While data collection occupied centrestage at Bedrock, Chiau confesses that the AUV’s design and scalable fleet systems were conceived and formulated in his head for years. “I’ve worked at SpaceX, at Reliable Robotics, SRI and elsewhere on different types of land, sea, air and space systems, and before that I was a submarine pilot and had engineered crewed submersibles at DeepFlight. “I knew for a long time that there was a need for a modular, scalable, precise and cost-effective AUV, so I’d been sketching something like this for a while before there was ever the exact right opportunity to build it.” Following Bedrock’s founding, the first version of the AUV (based on all COTS vehicle and subsystem parts) was launched in six months, from the first team drawings to the first water trials. After some time spent realising the limitations of working with COTS and third-party systems, four months of deeper engineering followed. Bedrock Ocean AUV | Digest I knew for a long time that there was a need for a modular, scalable, precise and costeffective AUV, so I’d been sketching something like this Uncrewed Systems Technology | August/September 2024 Designed to fit Bedrock Ocean Exploration’s exact subsea mapping needs, the AUV measures 2.4 m long and weighs 60 kg in air (Images courtesy of Bedrock, except where otherwise stated) Bedrock has built seven of its AUVs to date, with two versions developed, engineered and tested, and each one has its own internal name, corresponding to either its colour or serial number
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