Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and AI for Subsea Intelligence and Defense

In the critical realm of underwater operations, where stealth, precision, and endurance are paramount, Seaber, a French company, stands out as an innovator in the design and manufacture of micro-Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Since its inception, Seaber has focused on developing highly reliable and easily deployable AUVs tailored for demanding marine survey, intelligence, surveillance, and defense applications. With a strong emphasis on in-house development and cutting-edge AI integration, Seaber provides versatile solutions that are transforming how data is collected and exploited beneath the waves.

Pioneering Micro-AUV Technology for Accessibility

Seaber’s origins can be traced to a commitment to making sophisticated AUV technology more accessible and user-friendly. While specific founding dates and early details are less publicized, the company’s focus has consistently been on creating compact, robust, and intuitive underwater drones. This approach contrasts with the complexity often associated with larger, more traditional AUVs, which typically require extensive logistical support and specialized vessels for deployment.

According to various sources, Seaber designs its micro-AUVs with key attributes in mind: high reliability, precise navigation, and ease of deployment and retrieval. This philosophy has allowed them to create platforms that can be swiftly launched by a single person from shore or a small boat, significantly reducing operational costs and increasing mission flexibility.

A key development in Seaber’s journey was its integration into the Thales Group on March 29, 2024. This acquisition is poised to accelerate Seaber’s growth, enabling it to scale its innovative solutions and expand its reach in both civilian and military sectors globally. Becoming part of a major defense technology conglomerate like Thales provides Seaber with significant resources and a broader platform for its advanced underwater systems.

Core Capabilities: The YUCO and MARVEL Series of Micro-AUVs

Seaber’s primary offerings revolve around its range of micro-AUVs, notably the YUCO and MARVEL series, which are designed for diverse subsea missions, ranging from environmental monitoring to critical defense tasks.

1. YUCO Series: Versatile Micro-AUVs for Marine Intelligence: The YUCO range of micro-AUVs are compact, high-performance platforms designed for a variety of underwater data collection tasks. They are particularly known for their unique combination of robustness, precision, and ease of use.
   • Modular Payload System: The YUCO AUVs feature a modular design, allowing for quick plug-and-play integration of various sensors. This adaptability makes them suitable for a wide array of missions.
   • Sensor Options: YUCO can be configured with numerous sensor options including side-scan sonars for bathymetry and general visual inspection, CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) sensors for water quality monitoring, multi-parameter sondes for environmental data (e.g., Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, pH), acoustic recorders for marine mammal monitoring, and eDNA collectors for biodiversity studies.
   • INX Navigation System: Seaber’s proprietary INX navigation system provides highly accurate and reliable underwater navigation. This advanced system integrates DVL (Doppler Velocity Log) and depth sensors, offering precise positioning without the need for external acoustic beacons in many scenarios.
   • SEAPLAN Software: The user-friendly SEAPLAN software provides an intuitive interface for mission planning and AUV control. It allows users to easily program missions, visualize paths, monitor AUV status, and manage sensor data. It supports various mapping formats and features smart mission analysis to ensure feasibility based on AUV capabilities and environmental parameters.
   • Ease of Deployment: Weighing approximately 8-10 kg and measuring around 1 meter in length, YUCO AUVs are designed for single-person deployment and recovery from almost any location, including small boats or even directly from the shore. They are highly maneuverable with speeds up to 6 knots and can operate at depths of up to 300 meters, with endurance ranging from 6 to 10 hours.
   • Low Logistical Footprint: The compact size and ease of operation mean a minimal logistical footprint, making YUCO AUVs highly cost-effective and efficient for repeated missions.
2. MARVEL Series: Specialized AUVs for Defense and Security: The MARVEL series, an extension of Seaber’s micro-AUV technology, is specifically geared towards defense-oriented sectors, including security, Coast Guard operations, Mine Countermeasures (MCM) missions, and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training.
   • MARVEL-MAGNETO: This variant is designed for detecting magnetic anomalies, making it highly effective for identifying unexploded ordnance (UXO) or other metallic objects on the seabed. Equipped with a fluxgate magnetometer, it provides high-quality imagery and accurate navigation even in coastal areas with waves and currents. Its underwater acoustic positioning and communication module further enhance its operational capabilities.
   • Mine Countermeasures (MCM): Seaber has unveiled micro-AUVs tailored for shallow and very shallow water MCM operations. These AUVs can be equipped with standard payloads such as Side Scan Sonars, Multibeam Echo Sounders, and magnetometers for efficient mine detection and identification. Their compact size and user-friendliness make them ideal for rapid deployment in critical mine clearance scenarios.
   • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Training (RECALL®): The RECALL® micro-AUV is a specialized variant designed to serve as a training target for ASW exercises. It realistically reproduces submarine noise and motion, incorporating different training modes (passive, active, and combined acoustics). With a speed of 12 knots and a depth rating of 300 meters, RECALL® offers a low logistical footprint and can be deployed from surface ships, submarines, or helicopters within minutes, providing an ergonomic and intuitive human-machine interface for non-expert operators.

AI and Autonomy in Underwater Operations

Seaber’s focus on advanced autonomy and AI integration is crucial for its defense applications.

• Intelligent Navigation and Control: The INX navigation system, powered by Seaber’s proprietary algorithms, provides high-performance navigation and a highly configurable platform that continuously optimizes the AUV’s underwater experience. This level of autonomy allows the AUVs to execute complex missions independently, minimizing the need for constant human intervention.
• Data Processing and Analysis: While the direct mention of AI for data processing from the AUVs is not extensively detailed on Seaber’s specific product pages, the broader maritime industry is rapidly integrating AI and machine learning for data analytics. Such technologies are used for processing vast amounts of information from AUVs, enabling enhanced situational awareness, improved decision-making, and predictive maintenance for naval assets. Seaber’s focus on collecting high-quality data through its advanced sensors inherently supports AI-driven analysis.
• Reduced Human Workload: By automating mission planning and execution, and providing intuitive human-machine interfaces through software like SEAPLAN, Seaber’s AUVs reduce the cognitive burden on operators. This allows military personnel to focus on interpreting critical intelligence rather than managing complex robotic systems.

Strategic Partnerships and Impact on Defense

Seaber’s collaborations and integrations highlight its growing influence in the maritime defense and scientific communities:

• NATO Exercises: Seaber’s Micro-AUV with side-scan sonar was successfully used in operational conditions during the NATO REP(MUS) exercise in late 2022, demonstrating its combat readiness and effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
• MONITOR Project: Seaber is a key partner in the MONITOR project, which aims to combine a fleet of four underwater micro-AUVs, each with different measuring instruments, to collect diverse data. This project involves collaboration with scientific institutions like CNRS-LEMAR, demonstrating the AUVs’ versatility for scientific research that can also inform defense applications. The project emphasizes the AUVs’ ability to provide a comprehensive overview of marine biodiversity, soundscapes, and habitat structures, while reducing acquisition costs and minimizing risk at sea.
• Thales Group Integration: The acquisition by Thales Group signifies a major strategic partnership, allowing Seaber to benefit from Thales’s global presence and technological ecosystem. This will likely accelerate the development of more advanced defense capabilities for Seaber’s AUVs.
• Addressing Naval Mine Threats: Seaber directly addresses the rising naval mine threat by providing affordable, reliable, and easily deployable micro-AUVs for mine detection and identification in shallow and very shallow waters. This capability is crucial for protecting naval assets and ensuring safe passage in contested maritime zones.

Seaber’s rapid evolution from an innovative micro-AUV developer to a strategic part of the Thales Group underscores its critical role in the future of underwater defense and intelligence. By continuously refining its autonomous platforms and integrating cutting-edge sensor technology, Seaber is equipping naval forces with highly effective tools for intelligence gathering, mine countermeasures, and advanced training, thereby contributing significantly to maritime security and operational readiness worldwide.