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mapping, which DriX’s stable submarine-shaped form and tomatically avoided them all, faster than a guard boat could payload gondola supports. But it’s also done pipeline/cable react, says Eudeline. inspection, positioning of beacons and positioning and com- iXblue’s next steps for DriX include developing a tow? sh munications with an AUV in 1,000m water depth and it can payload, to further expand its capabilities. iXblue also wants carry a wide payload suite, from MBES to integrated USBL smaller survey companies to be able to use DriX, so it’s ex- and LBL, sub-bottom pro? lers and magnetometers, all within ploring a small launch and recovery boat, initially crewed, but the gondola, says Eudeline. eventually uncrewed. In the short-mid-term, the goal is full

Recent DriX projects include work with SHOM, the French ocean depth sensor capabilities, which means a bigger version

Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic service, using a of DriX. Longer term, iXblue is eying something even bigger launch and recovery system (LARS) on board the Beautemps that can work directly out of port without support, says Eude-

Beaupré (BHO) hydro-oceanographic vessel. Reference areas line. This could also be a platform for other systems, such as down to 200m deep were surveyed, at up to <14 knots and in ROVs and AUVs and would take a different form to DriX, rough seas, with over 2,000 km of survey lines completed over says Eudeline. two, 72-hour non-stop missions.

In trials last year, DriX operated in 25-50m water depth with 35kt winds generating 2.5m wave height and peak 4.5m waves SEA-KIT (sea state 5/“rough”), but was able to conduct MBES lines SEA-KIT made its name as part of the winning GEBCO- staying within 1m and with heave at only -1.2-1.2m. iXblue NF Alumni team entry to the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE has also tested remote operation of DriX, over 900 km, and competition, which involved surveying sea? oor at 4,000m its collision avoidance systems. In recent trials, when four depth, completely uncrewed. The GEBCO-NF team did that catamarans in a sailing school went past DriX at speed, it au- by getting SEA-KIT’s parent company Hushcraft to design a - Detects all iron and steel

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