Cellula Robotics begins 5,000-Kilometer Sea Trials of Solus-XR XLUUV

Solus-XR XLUUV, built by Cellula Robotics Ltd., is the 1st Canadian Extra-Large UUV, and the largest ever fielded by Canada. It is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The company has initiated testing on the system, which has a projected range of 5,000 Kilometers, for port-to-port missions. It is well suited to operating under ice. “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.”
Specifications:
-Length: 12 m
-Cross-section: 1.7 x 1.7 m
-Displacement: 10,000 kg (depending on configuration)
-Range: 5,000 km at 3 kts
-Sprint speed: 8 kts
-Retractable Communications Mast to reduce drag when submerged
-Hovering capability using deployable thrusters & dual buoyancy engines
-Seafloor suction anchor
-Redundant hydrogen fuel cell powered, with Li-ion batteries to increase sprint endurance
-Winch-deployed thin line towed array capability
-Transportable in a standard ISO 40’ container

Watch a related video, here. Illustrations courtesy of Cellula Robotics. Our thanks to CDR David Place (USN/Ret), davidplace47[at]gmail[dot]com, for his assistance with this report, the background for which appeared in USN Edition  # 23 - 15 - 5 OCTOBER 2023edition of the UNMANNED SYSTEMS NEWS (USN).
David distributes the USN, a free, comprehensive newsletter in PDF format every three to four weeks as well as serial news flashes, from which this NREF news update was sourced. To be included in his distribution, simply send a subscribe request to davidplace47[at]gmail[dot]com.