August 2016 - Marine Technology Reporter

MTR100: Hydroid

Marine Technology Reporter
Hydroid, Inc. – a part of Kongsberg Maritime’s autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) group since its acquisition by Norwegian technology conglomerate Kongsberg Gruppen in 2008 – is a manufacturer of AUVs, including its signature REMUS vehicles. Hydroid founder Christopher von Alt’s knowledge of the intricate technology has been integral to the products’ development and widespread adoption. After years of fabricating and developing the REMUS vehicle at WHOI, in 2001 von Alt co-founded Hydroid, creating an independent company to commercially manufacture, support and further develop the REMUS systems. It now offers advanced, diversified and field-proven REMUS AUVs that provide innovative and reliable full-picture systems for the marine research, hydrographic, commercial offshore/energy and defense markets. The REMUS AUV is the culmination of 16 years of leading-edge R&D and boasts a proven track record for reliable and consistent field operations. Helping to facilitate and advance comprehensive ocean exploration, Hydroid’s REMUS AUVs can glide along the surface, dive to deep depths, explore shallow waters or hover in hazardous areas where navigation is difficult. Hydroid AUVs have reduced the high costs of ocean exploration and sampling while increasing the availability, quality and quantity of scientific marine data. Using Hydroid AUVs for undersea mine reconnaissance has helped save lives by eliminating human divers from mine fields, and the customizable robots have helped solve plane and ship disaster mysteries. Hydroid AUVs also provide scientists data on pressing global issues including climate change, the world’s declining fish population and environmental disasters. REMUS AUVs are offered in three vehicle classes: the man-portable REMUS 100 (depth rated to 100m); the highly versatile, modular REMUS 600 (depth rated to 600m or 1,500m); and the REMUS 6000 (depth rated to 6,000M), a deep-water workhorse. In March of 2016, Hydroid introduced the New Generation REMUS 100 AUV, which combines the reliability of the original REMUS 100 AUV that customers know and trust with new features and capabilities, such as advanced core electronics, a flexible navigation suite with an exclusive conformal Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and an open architecture platform for advanced autonomy.
 
All REMUS AUVs are built on a common technology base incorporating the intuitive vehicle interface program (VIP); this keeps vehicle maintenance, mission planning, checkout, data analysis and cross-vehicle training seamless across the model line. The vehicles can be equipped with many different instruments including a GPS-aided inertial navigation system; Doppler velocity log; varying sensors; conductivity and temperature monitors; varying sonars; video camera module; turbidity sensors; and an electronic still camera. In June 2016, Hydroid unveiled its new subsea Hyperbaric Testing System (HTS) at its manufacturing facility in Pocasset, Mass. The testing system simulates hydrostatic pressures found at depths up to 6,000m and will be used to test Hydroid’s autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and other marine robotics products to ensure their integrity at rated depth. The Hyperbaric Testing System is 10,000 psig Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP), and features built-in safeties with secondary pressure containment, rapid turnaround time and full electrical and hydraulic interfaces to test the assemblies while at pressure. 
 
 
6 Benjamin Nye Circle, Pocasset, MA 02559
Phone: 508-563-6565
Fax: 508-563-3445
Website: http://www.hydroid.com 
CEO/President: Duane Fotheringham 
Number of Employees: 162
President: Duane Fotheringham
Marketing Director: Graham Lester
Engineering Director: Sandor Becz
Facility: 
• 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility – opened October 2014
• An additional 15,000 square foot building is currently being built. Opening is planned for end of 2016.
Square Footage: 40,000-square-feet 
 
 
(As published in the July/August 2016 MTR100 edition of Marine Technology Reporter)

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