Kongsberg’s New Underwater Drone Completes Longest Autonomous Dive

Kongsberg Discovery, the division of the Norwegian defense contractor KONGSBERG, has reached a remarkable milestone with its latest Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), the HUGIN Endurance. This innovative vehicle recently completed a record-breaking, multi-week dive, demonstrating the cutting-edge capabilities of modern underwater technology.

The HUGIN Endurance, an impressive 8-ton, 40-foot AUV, embarked on a challenging mission that took it to depths ranging from 50 to 3,400 meters. During this extensive operation, the vehicle operated entirely autonomously, showcasing its ability to perform complex tasks without human intervention or external navigation aids. The AUV was equipped with a pre-deployed transponder that provided a final navigation update 10 hours into the dive, after which it continued its journey on its own.

Over the course of its mission, the HUGIN Endurance covered an impressive distance of 1,200 nautical miles. What sets this achievement apart is the vehicle's precision: it returned with a position error of just 0.02% of the total distance traveled. This extraordinary accuracy underscores the vehicle's advanced navigation system and operational reliability.

The mission was designed to test the HUGIN Endurance to its limits, confirming its ability to meet its design specifications and perform effectively under real-world conditions. Kongsberg Discovery highlighted that this test not only demonstrates the AUV’s robust endurance but also reaffirms its reliability over extended, unsupervised operations.

The HUGIN Endurance, which measures 39 feet in length and 47 inches in diameter, is part of Kongsberg’s renowned HUGIN family of AUVs. It boasts an operational range of up to 1,200 nautical miles and can function continuously for up to 15 days. This capability allows it to undertake shore-to-shore missions without human oversight, a testament to Kongsberg’s 30 years of expertise in delivering reliable unmanned underwater systems for both commercial and defense applications.

With this milestone, the HUGIN Endurance has firmly established itself at the forefront of autonomous underwater technology, further cementing Kongsberg Discovery’s position as a leader in the field of unmanned deep-water exploration and defense systems.