Kongsberg Maritime has successfully completed the Customer Acceptance Testing (CAT) for the first delivery of its HUGIN Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) with a new cNODE integrated subsea positioning and communication system.

During the testing of the new package, which took place during Quarter 1, 2015 in the deep waters outside the coast of Bali, Indonesia, and the Indian Ocean, HUGIN reached a record operational depth of 4449 metres, Kongsberg informed.

Kongsberg Maritime’s HUGIN AUV, which is rated to 4500 metres, has until now been delivered with three separate acoustic systems; a beacon transponder for positioning, an Acoustic Data Link (uplink) and an Acoustic Command Link. The new cNODE system now replaces all three with a single embedded system featuring the established HiPAP 501 acoustic positioning system.

During the CAT, the HUGIN AUV was mounted with a 30 degree transducer head. The new record water depth was achieved not only for the AUV, but also for the cNODE system.

“The team took HUGIN deeper than it has ever been before in order to prove the capabilities of the new positioning and communication system at its longest range,” explained Stian Michael Kristoffersen, R&D Engineer, Kongsberg Maritime. “The integration of our established HiPAP, cNODE and Cymbal technology represents a significant breakthrough for AUV operations as it offers real benefits in terms of launch and recovery and surface vessel flexibility.”