Swathe Services Delivers Unmanned Surface Vessel to Trondheim University

Swathe Services announced that Trondheim University has purchased an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), designed and built by Unmanned Survey Solutions in Hayle, Cornwall.

The Inception Class Mark 2 USV is designed for hydrographic surveys and data acquisition in ports and harbors, lakes and rivers, shallow coastal or enclosed inland areas. This vessel will be used to map lakes and river sediment movement in Norway. It is equipped with a Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) system, R2SONIC 2020 MBES, SBG Ekinox2 Inertial Navigation System (INS), Valeport sound velocity sensors and Hypack software. The Inception class USV’s can be operated with remote control capabilities or as an autonomous vessel. It is built of aluminum and operates in ultra-shallow waters.

Dr. Nils Rüther, associate professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Trondheim University, is an expert on floods, hydropower, waterways and environmental design. He said, “We are delighted with the new Inception Class Mark 2 USV. It will be invaluable in our research on hydro-morphodynamic processes and river and lakes, as well as water resources management.”