Project summary

The main ambition of the ENDURUNS project is to develop an integrated hybrid AUV system capable of operating under deep ocean conditions and performing a wide-range of missions, targeting the increase of scientific knowledge as well as industrial capability and performance. Due to its versatile nature, the ENDURUNS system will be suited to perform scientific missions, such as seabed mapping, profiling, geological and geophysical surveys, commercial missions, such as inspection of infrastructure and assets, mineral and seabed mining exploration missions and public authority missions such as surveillance, search and find missions (e.g. aircraft wreckage), equally well. Therefore, the ENDURUNS system will enable for the first time long endurance missions demonstrated up to TRL 5 or above during the project for a wide variety of high impact deep sea applications. The AUV and USV combination are expected to significantly outperform all existing AUV vehicles, in terms of endurance, positioning, survey capability, resolution, sensitivity, etc.