Australia is advancing its underwater defence technology capabilities with new contracts awarded to 3 local companies to develop advanced navigation systems for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
Under the Defence Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Undersea Navigation Challenge, contracts worth A$7.2 million have been awarded to Phasor Innovation, Nomad Atomics and Q-CTRL.
The selected companies will develop technology that allows AUVs to determine their position underwater in environments where GPS signals are unavailable or cannot be accessed.
Operating beneath the ocean surface remains a major challenge for autonomous systems because GPS does not function underwater and can also become unreliable during conflict situations. Existing alternatives such as sonar may expose the location of underwater vessels, creating additional operational risks.
The Undersea Navigation Challenge invited Australian companies to create innovative solutions for autonomous underwater navigation. The focus was on building systems that are small in size, lightweight, low power, cost-effective and capable of supporting AUVs during long-duration independent missions.
The initiative is being carried out jointly across Defence, with support from the Defence Science and Technology Group, Joint Capabilities Group and the Royal Australian Navy.
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