Go
deep. Go long. That's what Boeing's newest autonomous unmanned underwater
vehicle, Echo Seeker, is designed to do. It's a follow up to Echo Ranger,
and its capabilities allow it to perform longer missions at greater
depths than other unmanned submersibles. Check out the video to see
Echo Seeker go through the paces at Boeing’s Huntington Beach
facility. |
Originally
built in 2001 to capture high-resolution sonar images of sea beds for
oil and natural gas companies, such as the Exxon Mobil Corporation,
Echo Ranger has been undergoing testing for possible use by the military.
Among its possible military uses are to stalk targets in enemy waters,
patrol local harbors to detect national security threats, and scour
ocean floors to detect environmental hazards. The submersible weights
more than five tons (4.5 metric tons), is 18.5 feet (5.6 meters) long
and is able to descend to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). |