The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has successfully developed a new generation of man-portable autonomous underwater vehicles (MP-AUVs) for mine countermeasure missions.
The system consists of multiple AUVs with primary payloads of Side Scan Sonar and Underwater cameras for real-time detection and classification of Mine-Like Objects.
The onboard deep learning-based target identification algorithms allow for autonomous classification, which considerably reduces operator burden and mission time.
Furthermore, a strong underwater audio communication system has been implemented to allow inter-AUV data transmission during operations, resulting in improved situational awareness.
The recently completed field experiments at NSTL/Harbour effectively validated key system characteristics and crucial mission objectives. Multiple industry partners are involved in the system’s development, and it will be ready for production within the next few months.
Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated the NSTL team on the successful creation of MP-AUVs, describing it as a major step toward a deployable, intelligent, and networked mine countermeasure solution.
It provides rapid reaction capability for maritime mine warfare applications while reducing operational risk and logistical footprint, he stated.
