Bibby HydroMap has partnered with the Paris-based provider of navigation, positioning and imaging services iXblue to bring DriX, a new autonomous unmanned surface vessel (AUSV), to the European market.
According to Bibby HydroMap, DriX will be used to supplement existing survey capability across projects the company is undertaking, while performance information will form part of the continued development of the asset.
Developed by iXblue over the past 12 months, the AUSV will be available to Bibby HydroMap’s existing and new customers from June 2018.
Initially mobilized with a dual-head Teledyne RESON SeaBat T50 integrated multibeam echosounder system, the vessel is expected to offer increased production and productivity during survey data acquisition.
Specifically designed with a hull shape optimized for both coastal and offshore missions, DriX offers up to seven days of data acquisition endurance at speed of up to 14 knots, the company said, adding that multiple navigation options are also available, ranging from full autonomy to autopilot, remote supervisor action, a follow-me function and a hovering mode, all COLREG compliant.
With this investment, Bibby HydroMap said it has become the first adopter of DriX in the UK, having worked closely with iXblue for a number of years.