zoomAutosub Long Range; Photo: NOC

Steatite, developer of power solutions for extreme environments, has formally become a partner with the Marine Robotics Innovation Centre.

Steatite’s move into the Innovation Centre is a sign of the company’s potential to secure their position in the market of innovative power solutions for deep-sea marine autonomous systems (MAS).

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and Steatite already form part of a UK consortium, using the latest lithium-sulfur chemistry to research and develop safe, pressure tolerant, rechargeable batteries with increased endurance and reduced payloads, optimizing their potential for integration with MAS.

Occupying space in the Innovation Centre, working alongside the NOC’s marine autonomy and robotics team, and utilising in-house facilities, will help support future collaborative projects within the MAS sector.

Paul Edwards, divisional director of Steatite batteries, said: “Following the acquisition of Creasefield Ltd in June of 2016, the Steatite battery business has created a significant force within the oceanographic and defence markets. We are very happy to be partnering with the Marine Robotics Innovation Centre, and see this as a further opportunity to work with like-minded companies and people, to stimulate new product development for power and battery capability.”

Kevin Forshaw, associate director, Innovation and Enterprise at NOC, added: “We are delighted to welcome Steatite into the Innovation Centre and to have this opportunity to further strengthen our working relationship by having their personnel on site.”