Cellula Robotics Ltd. Initiates Sea Trials of its Solus-XR System, Marking a Significant Project Milestone and Demonstrating Commitment to Cutting-Edge XLUUV Technology

Cellula's Solus-XR XLUUV undergoes its inaugural sea trials off the shores of West Vancouver, BC on August 29th, 2023.

Cellula Robotics Ltd. proudly announces a monumental moment in a project that commenced in early 2023, showcasing the company's dedication to advancing Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs). The Solus-XR XLUUV has officially embarked on its highly anticipated sea trials, signifying a crucial stride in the company’s development of its long range hydrogen fuel cell powered autonomous underwater systems.

“This momentous achievement is a testament to Cellula’s enduring commitment to innovation and excellence.” Said Adrian Woodroffe, Director of Business Development at Cellula. “Through strategic partnerships and tireless dedication, the company has transformed a vision into reality with the development of the Solus-XR XLUUV, a cutting-edge testament to the future of maritime security.”

Building upon the foundation of Cellula's preceding innovation, Solus-LR, the remarkable Solus-XR XLUUV has been meticulously crafted to attain unparalleled operational ranges, reaching an impressive 5,000 kilometers. Through its port-to-port mission capability, Solus-XR removes the necessity for auxiliary support vessels, thus facilitating access to challenging and remote locations frequently encountered in Arctic sub-ice missions. Beyond the elimination of environmentally taxing high-emission support vessels, the cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell technology developed by Cellula empowers the system to engage in sustainable operations, ensuring minimal ecological footprint.

The initial sea trials are designed to evaluate surface performance and autonomy, offering a valuable opportunity to assess the vehicle's capabilities in the dynamic context of real-world maritime conditions.

Looking ahead, Cellula Robotics Ltd has planned demonstration missions for 2024, a pivotal step in showcasing the full spectrum of the Solus-XR XLUUV's capabilities in real-world scenarios. These missions will underscore the vehicle's potential to redefine underwater security and operations, solidifying its place as a game-changing technology.

Further bolstering its achievements, the Solus-XR XLUUV proudly claims the title of the largest UUV ever developed in Canada. This accomplishment underscores the nation's capacity to drive innovation and lead in the development of cutting-edge underwater technology.

As Cellula Robotics Ltd pushes the boundaries of innovation, the sea trials of the Solus-XR XLUUV mark a defining moment in the company's journey, demonstrating its commitment to excellence and setting the stage for a new era of XLUUVs.

Cellula Awarded CHARYBDIS Phase 1 Project

Cellula Robotics has been chosen as one of 26 suppliers to be awarded a contract for the prestigious CHARYBDIS Phase 1 project. This selection marks a significant recognition of Cellula's expertise and innovation in the realm of uncrewed surveillance technologies.

Spearheaded by the Submarine Delivery Agency Autonomy Unit (SDA-AU) on behalf of Navy Develop, this venture seeks to commission an array of concept studies from diverse and credible suppliers. The overarching goal is to achieve integrated uncrewed, persistent, deployable Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Surveillance systems.

The mission of project CHARYBDIS encompasses the identification, prototyping, trials, and delivery of technologies that offer persistent, deployable, uncrewed surveillance prowess. The prime focus of this endeavor is to detect, classify, localize, and report underwater hostiles across expansive oceanic regions.

This commendable opportunity entails the execution of Phase 1 of the project, with future phases being meticulously shaped by insights garnered from the Concept Studies that will be generated through this contract.

In alignment with the Royal Navy's strategic objective to enhance their operational advantage over potential adversaries, Project CHARYBDIS emerges as a pivotal conduit. This initiative seeks to harness advancements in autonomy, robotics, and machine learning to transcend conventional methodologies, encompassing fixed infrastructure, transient sonobuoys, and crew-intensive platforms. This procurement constitutes an integral facet of Phase 1 of Project CHARYBDIS, which seamlessly integrates into the Royal Navy's Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Spearhead.

As Cellula Robotics embarks on this collaborative journey as part of the CHARYBDIS Phase 1 project, we anticipate groundbreaking contributions that will redefine the landscape of underwater surveillance and bolster national security.

Cellula Robotics and HonuWorx Collaborate to Revolutionize Underwater Technology Landscape

Rendering showing the Loggerhead concept. XLUUV with deployed ROV conducting offshore wind farm inspection. Photo courtesy of HonuWorx Ltd. (CNW Group/Cellula Robotics Ltd.)

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to announce a collaboration with HonuWorx Ltd. to assist in a series of technology demonstrations, marking a significant milestone in the development of Cellula's groundbreaking extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle, Solus-XR.

Cellula's Solus-XR XLUUV will play a vital role in showcasing HonuWorx's Loggerhead concept, which represents a revolutionary solution for the subsea industry. The Loggerhead concept is a pioneering approach that utilizes an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) as a mobile power and communication hub for Light Work Class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Unlike other emerging uncrewed vessel concepts, Loggerhead avoids deployment challenges caused by adverse weather conditions by operating its systems subsea and eliminating the risks associated with launching ROVs and AUVs through the splash-zone. This approach simplifies and optimizes the design of the vehicles for their intended tasks.

"The collaboration between Cellula and HonuWorx represents a significant advancement in underwater technology," said Adrian Woodroffe, Director of Business Development at Cellula Robotics. "With the extended range capabilities of Solus-XR combined with HonuWorx's innovative subsea inspection and intervention techniques, we are poised to revolutionize underwater operations."

The Loggerhead approach holds immense promise for the defense and energy industries, offering improved operational efficiency, cost reductions, and a smaller environmental footprint.

Lucas Wissmann, Co-Founder at HonuWorx, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "The upcoming demonstrations will demonstrate an ROV deployment model that promises to disrupt the economics of subsea work and reshape the landscape of underwater technology. Our companies share a pioneering spirit and a shared vision, which will forge new frontiers to disrupt the sector and unlock value."

Both Cellula Robotics and HonuWorx are committed to pushing the boundaries of underwater technology, ensuring the delivery of innovative and sustainable solutions for global underwater operations.

Canadian fuel cell powered AUV demonstrated at Autonomous Warrior 23 in Australia

Responding to an invitation from the Royal Australian Navy, Cellula Robotics Ltd. from Burnaby, Canada has successfully mobilised and operated the long range, hydrogen fuel cell powered AUV, Solus-LR as part of Autonomous Warrior 23 at HMAS Creswell (Jarvis Bay), Australia.  Solus-LR is 8.5 meters in length, displaces 3.7 tonnes and is the first fuel cell powered Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to operate in Australian waters.

As part of Autonomous Warrior 23, Solus-LR has successfully completed multiple fuel cell powered subsea missions. These missions included rapid environmental assessment over a range of mine like objects and acoustic characterization by static and mobile assets.

Solus-LR was designed and built by Cellula Robotics Ltd. and delivered to Defence Research Development Canada (DRDC), under the All Domain Situational Awareness Program.  Cellula Robotics Ltd., with support from DRDC, continues to develop the Solus-LR platform with the ambition of helping to fulfill Canada’s need for a large-scale, persistent, subsea surveillance capability in the Arctic.

Minister of Transport announces funding for new technologies to reduce underwater noise from marine vessels

Underwater noise from boats can negatively impact the marine environment and vulnerable marine mammals— including species like the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. That is why the Government of Canada is investing in new technologies that will help reduce underwater noise from vessels on Canada’s waters.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced more than $3.1 million for 22 projects to help reduce the impact of underwater vessel noise.  

Projects are funded through Transport Canada’s Quiet Vessel Initiative and builds on previous actions taken to keep the marine ecosystem safe, such as the Whales Initiative. As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to keep marine mammals safe, the Quiet Vessels Initiative will help protect the marine environment more than ever before.

Cellula Robotics was funded $150,000 to install hydrophones and other equipment onto Solus-LR, a Hydrogen-Powered Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, to conduct a two-week operation to collect background acoustic and environmental data in Southern Resident killer whale habitat. The data will be made available to support future research into the effects of vessel traffic on orca populations. It will also demonstrate the viability of zero-emission technology for use in monitoring underwater vessel noise.

For more information, visit the official Government of Canada website.

Cellula Successfully Completes Demonstration Missions Using Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered AUV

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is excited to announce the successful completion of various demonstration missions using the hydrogen fuel cell powered autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), Solus-LR. 

The missions, executed in Vancouver's Indian Arm inlet on July 15th, demonstrated the remarkable autonomous launch of a micro-AUV from Solus-LR while submerged and underway.  Following the launch, the micro-AUV surfaced and transmitted a status message to Solus-LR's command and control center via Iridium satellite.  The operation was the first of its kind and demonstrated near real-time, over-the-horizon communications from a submerged AUV.

The demonstration was observed by representatives from Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS), the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Defence Research Development Canada (DRDC), Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG Australia) and the Minister of State for Trade, Vancouver-Fraserview, George Chow, as part of Cellula's ongoing work with TAS' SeaWolf program.

Built on a research and development project originally sponsored by DRDC under the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science and Technology (S&T) Program that developed Solus-LR, the mission re-enforced the capabilities and potential of a long-range, hydrogen fuel cell powered AUV designed for submerged missions in excess of 2,000 km.

CEO of TAS, Professor Jason Scholz said: "We were extremely impressed to see these novel technologies, particularly the hydrogen fuel-cell succeed in sea trial conditions. This type of power provides an additional viable option to diesel, battery-only and nuclear propulsion. Cellula Robotics continue to impress on the SeaWolf program, along with the contributions of our many Australian partners in the consortium. We aim to continue to develop this capability option for Defence consideration."

Cellula Receives Contract Extension for Hydrogen-Powered AUV Fuel Cell Module

Cellula Robotics is pleased to announce a contract extension with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to continue development on the hydrogen-powered fuel cell module built for Solus-LR.

Solus-LR was developed for Defence Research and Development Canada under the All Domain Situational Awareness Science and Technology Program. Fuel cell pool endurance tests will take place in early 2022.

Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is the national leader in defence and security science and technology. DRDC provides the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments, as well as the public safety and national security communities, the knowledge and technological advantage needed to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad. For more information, please visit DRDC’s website.

All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) S&T Program: Through an investment of up to $133 million over five years, through to 2020, in the ADSA S&T Program, DND is supporting a variety of innovative research and analysis projects, the outcomes of which are expected to contribute to the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic. This research and analysis will be delivered through collaboration with other government departments, academia, industry and allies. Surveillance solutions explored and potentially selected will strengthen the Government of Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and will provide a greater whole-of-government awareness of safety and security issues, as well as transportation and commercial activity in Canada’s Arctic.

Abraham AUV Successfully Delivered to Terradepth

Cellula Robotics has successfully delivered Abraham, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), to Terradepth LLC to support the development of their AxV platform.

Abraham is based on Cellula’s proven Solus-LR AUV without the fuel cell module. In less than ten months, the project team completed the design and build at Cellula’s Burnaby facility, including three weeks of sea trials in Indian Arm (BC, Canada). 

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Cellula supported client involvement during testing and sea trials with remote data and video connections to the Cellula Ranger support vessel.

“This project is the first commercial sale of Cellula’s Solus AUV platform, further validating the design developed for Defence R&D Canada.  Cellula has enjoyed working with Terradepth’s high calibre team, and we are proud to have been part of their game changing AxV development.  Cellula would also like to acknowledge DRDC’s original contribution to the development of Solus-LR, which made this project possible,” said Eric Jackson, President of Cellula.

Cellula will continue to provide support to Terradepth as they progress their integrated vehicle sea trials in Austin, Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.

Terradepth is a full-stack company integrating the latest undersea data capture, storage, and transmission technologies, deployed on a fleet of networked autonomous underwater vehicles. Their mission is to capture comprehensive data from the world's ocean on an unprecedented scale, resolution, and price point. For more information, visit their website.

Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is the national leader in defence and security science and technology. DRDC provides the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments, as well as the public safety and national security communities, the knowledge and technological advantage needed to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad. For more information, please visit DRDC’s website.

Solus-LR Confirms Range Potential with In-Water Testing

Cellula is pleased to announce the Solus-LR AUV program has reached a major milestone with the completion of full vehicle sea trials. Solus-LR now includes the fuel cell, suction anchor and variable buoyancy engine modules; the vehicle measures 8.5m long by 1m diameter and displaces 3,700kg.

Sea trials focused on control system tuning, suction anchor performance and hydrodynamic drag analysis. Based on the results from this testing, Cellula has confirmed Solus-LR has a range potential of 2,000 km while cruising a 1.5m/s (3kts) with sufficient payload power to operate a typical survey payload for the entire mission.

Solus-LR was built for Defence Research and Development Canada under the All Domain Situational Awareness Science and Technology Program.  Additional fuel cell-powered missions are currently planned for the summer of 2021.

Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is the national leader in defence and security science and technology. DRDC provides the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments, as well as the public safety and national security communities, the knowledge and technological advantage needed to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad. For more information, please visit DRDC’s website; read their press release here.

All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) S&T Program: Through an investment of up to $133 million over five years, through to 2020, in the ADSA S&T Program, DND is supporting a variety of innovative research and analysis projects, the outcomes of which are expected to contribute to the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic. This research and analysis will be delivered through collaboration with other government departments, academia, industry and allies. Surveillance solutions explored and potentially selected will strengthen the Government of Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and will provide a greater whole-of-government awareness of safety and security issues, as well as transportation and commercial activity in Canada’s Arctic.

Cellula Robotics and Ocean Floor Geophysics Collaborate on Vessel Signature Measurement Contract for Royal Canadian Navy

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is collaborating with Ocean Floor Geophysics Ltd. (OFG) on a contract to measure and model the magnetic and electric signatures of a non-combatant training vessel provided by the Royal Canadian Navy. The results will be used to complement and extend current vessel signature measurement capabilities.

The data will be collected by OFG sensors integrated on Cellula’s Solus-LR AUV. In addition to sensor integration, Cellula will provide engineering services, a remote operations piloting control centre, and use of AUV support vessel Cellula Ranger for the field trials.

Solus-LR is a fuel cell powered long range AUV, capable of 2000km submerged missions. It is currently being built for Defence Research Development Canada under the All Domain Situational Awareness Science and Technology Program. For more information, visit our product page.

Since its inception Ocean Floor Geophysics (OFG) has consistently developed and operated innovative marine geophysical systems to provide new perspectives to their clients. OFG provides previously unavailable data acquisition and analysis services by integrating magnetic, EM, CSEM/MT, gravity, chemical, and hydrographic sensors and systems deployed on AUVs, ASV/USVs, ROVs and towed systems. For more information, visit their website.