HUGIN Endurance AUV completes record-breaking autonomous mission over 1,200 nautical miles.

According to a PR published by Kongsberg on September 4, 2024, the firm has announced a significant achievement in the development of its Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), the HUGIN Endurance, following the completion of a groundbreaking multi-week autonomous mission.
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HUGIN Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. (Picture source: Kongsberg)

The 8-ton, 40-foot HUGIN Endurance operated fully autonomously after receiving an initial navigation update from a pre-deployed transponder 10 hours into the dive.

From that point forward, the AUV functioned independently, without human intervention or external navigation support, covering depths from 50 meters to 3,400 meters. The mission successfully spanned a distance of 1,200 nautical miles, achieving a remarkably low position error of just 0.02% of the total distance traveled.

The mission's objective was to test the HUGIN Endurance's design specifications and operational limits in a real-world setting. It involved complex maneuvers, including straight-line transits ranging from 60 to 300 nautical miles and surveying areas totaling 36 square nautical miles.

High-resolution synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) imagery and bathymetric data were collected using Kongsberg’s HISAS 1032 Dual Rx system, completing the data acquisition process in under 48 hours. Additional data, such as camera imagery and laser profiling, were obtained at altitudes down to 9 meters.

Hugin Family

The HUGIN family of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) from Kongsberg Discovery encompasses a range of models, each tailored to specific operational needs and environments. Among these, the HUGIN Superior stands out as the high-end model, optimized for missions that require exceptional data quality and extended endurance. It is equipped with the latest synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) and bathymetric technologies, making it ideal for detailed seabed mapping and imaging at depths up to 6,000 meters.

Another model is the HUGIN Edge, which is designed for flexibility and rapid deployment in coastal and shallow-water environments. Its compact and lightweight build makes it particularly suitable for operations such as mine countermeasures, harbor surveillance, and environmental monitoring. Despite its smaller size, the HUGIN Edge maintains high-resolution imaging and advanced navigation capabilities, reflecting the family’s commitment to performance.

For commercial applications like offshore oil and gas exploration, the HUGIN ME70 is a preferred choice. This model integrates multibeam echosounder technology, providing precise seabed mapping and pipeline inspection capabilities. Its versatility is further enhanced by its support for a variety of payloads, including side-scan sonars and sub-bottom profilers, allowing operators to customize equipment based on mission-specific requirements.