The Canadian defense science and technology organization has awarded Cellula Robotics a contract to continue the development of the Solus-LR long range unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV).
The UUV will have a target range of 2000 km and is designed to stay submerged for multi-month missions.
The contract was awarded by Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defence’s (DND) science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), under the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science & Technology (S&T) program.
“This S&T program will showcase Cellula’s advanced UUV research and development, combining traditional technologies with innovative power and anchoring solutions,” Eric Jackson, president of Cellula, commented. “With Solus-LR able to travel for thousands of kilometers, port to port missions will become a feasible lower-cost alternative to vessel-based operations.”
Cellula has recently completed the Solus-LR preliminary design review and is proceeding with the critical design phase. Technology and lessons learnt from the previously announced fuel cell and suction anchor phases will be further developed and implemented in this project.
The design phase will continue into early 2019 followed by the build and factory testing. Sea trials and a capabilities demonstration in Indian Arm, British Columbia, will be concluded by April 2020.
All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) S&T Program
Through an investment of up to CAD133 million over five years, through to 2020, in the ADSA S&T Program, the Canadian defense department is supporting a variety of innovative research and analysis projects, the outcomes of which are expected to contribute to the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic.
This research and analysis will be delivered through collaboration with other government departments, academia, industry and allies. Surveillance solutions explored and potentially selected will strengthen the Government of Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and will provide a greater whole-of-government awareness of safety and security issues, as well as transportation and commercial activity in Canada’s Arctic.