Page 22: of Marine Technology Magazine (Jul/Aug 2026)

FEATURE MODULAR USVs

ONE HULL,

MANY MISSIONS:

How Modular USVs Are Changing

Autonomous Marine Operations

Credit: SeaTrac Systems he rapid expansion of autonomous marine opera- This ? exibility eliminates the need to maintain separate ves- tions has created a challenge for research institu- sels for every mission while allowing new technologies to be tions, government agencies, and commercial op- integrated as operational needs evolve.

erators alike. As missions become increasingly The platform also incorporates over-the-horizon communica-

T diverse, from environmental monitoring and hy- tions, multiple power options, and remote command-and-con- drographic surveying to defense exercises and subsea posi- trol capabilities that enable operators to supervise missions from tioning, maintaining dedicated vessels for every application shore. In many cases, a single operator can oversee multiple ve- presents dif? culties both ? nancially and operationally. hicles simultaneously, further increasing operational ef? ciency.

Instead, many organizations are prioritizing modular un- “USVs like ours offer researchers and project managers the crewed surface vehicles (USVs) capable of supporting multiple opportunity to collect more marine data or surveil open waters mission pro? les through rapid payload recon? guration. Rather with signi? cantly reduced operational costs, risk to humans, and than purchasing a new platform for every sensor or application, impact to the environment,” said SeaTrac’s Hobie Boeschen- a single vehicle can adapt to changing operational requirements stein, director of business development. “Deploying USVs that while minimizing logistics, training, and maintenance costs. are adaptable to nearly any marine environment, payload or

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is among the sensor helps to ensure success across multiple mission pro? les, many institutions putting this concept into practice. Through its further contributing to platform value. The use case opportuni-

Marine Research Center, USM has employed SeaTrac Systems’ ties in nearshore and offshore environments are endless.”

SP-48 USV across an expanding range of scienti? c, defense,

Expanding Environmental Data Collection and industrial projects, demonstrating how a modular platform can serve as a force multiplier across different missions. One of the clearest demonstrations of this ? exibility has been USM’s ongoing hypoxia mapping program in the Gulf

A Platform Designed for Adaptability of America.

Unlike traditional, mission-speci? c vessels, the SP-48 is de- Building on previous deployments, researchers expanded signed around a modular architecture. Payloads can be inte- operations by deploying two SP-48 USVs simultaneously, grated using multiple mounting locations, including a moon each equipped with acoustic Doppler current pro? lers (Tele- pool, dry payload bay, mast, or keel, allowing operators to dyne Workhorse Monitor ADCPs) and AML Oceanographic quickly con? gure the vehicle for different sensors without Endura 6 sondes to collect water quality measurements.

fundamentally changing the platform itself. Operating multiple autonomous vessels allowed researchers 22 July/August 2026

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