BURNABY, BC, CANADA, -- Cellula Robotics, a leading innovator in autonomous marine systems, announced today that its Solus-XR XLAUV (eXtra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) has successfully obtained MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship) compliance in Canada. This significant milestone follows the earlier MASS compliance of the Solus-LR AUV and underscores Cellula’s commitment to operational safety and technological advancement.
The MASS compliance process involves a rigorous evaluation of the vehicle’s safety equipment, operating procedures, control systems, and operator qualifications. By meeting these stringent standards, Cellula ensures the safe operation of the Solus-XR, particularly when it transitions to the surface.
The Solus-XR is a groundbreaking autonomous underwater vehicle designed for extended missions and demanding applications. With a length of approximately 11 meters, a width of 1.7 meters, and a weight of around 8 metric tons in air, it represents a significant advancement in the field of autonomous marine technology.
“Achieving MASS compliance for the Solus-XR is a testament to our dedication to safety and operational excellence,” said Alex Johnson, Director of Products at Cellula Robotics. “By adhering to the highest safety standards, we are enabling the deployment of advanced autonomous systems that can revolutionize marine operations.”
Cellula Robotics is committed to pushing the boundaries of marine technology and providing innovative solutions to complex challenges facing the oceanographic industry. The MASS compliance of the Solus-XR marks a major step forward in realizing the full potential of autonomous underwater vehicles. By enabling the exploration of deep-sea trenches, monitoring underwater infrastructure, and collecting data, the Solus-XR addresses critical challenges that require advanced technological solutions. This milestone paves the way for a future where the ocean's depths are better understood and protected. Cellula Robotics is proud to be at the forefront of this technological revolution, driving innovation and shaping the future of marine exploration.
About Cellula Robotics
Cellula Robotics is a world-leading developer of autonomous marine systems, specializing in the design, development, and deployment of advanced underwater vehicles (AUV) systems. With a focus on innovation and safety, Cellula is driving the future of marine technology.
Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia with additional offices on the East Coast of Canada and the United States, Cellula employs over 80 dedicated professionals, including highly skilled engineers, designers, and technicians.
Driven by innovation and industry knowledge, Cellula is committed to crafting sustainable solutions for the defense, offshore energy and scientific sectors. Cellula's hydrogen fuel cell-powered long range AUVs address evolving demands, propelling them towards a greener future.
Cellula Robotics Expands Operations to Meet Growing Demand
BURNABY, BC, CANADA, -- Cellula Robotics, a leading provider of advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), today announced a significant expansion of its operations to meet the increasing demand for its innovative products and services.
Cellula has established a new office at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This strategic move will strengthen the company's presence on the East Coast of Canada, providing a hub for sales, product development, and design activities.
"Our expansion in Canada is a direct response to the growing demand for our AUVs in the commercial offshore energy and subsea security sectors," said Richard Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Cellula Robotics. "By establishing a strong presence on both the East and West Coasts, we can better serve our customers and collaborate with key industry partners."
Cellula's global footprint is also expanding. The company is actively recruiting sales personnel in key markets such as the Gulf of Mexico, the United Kingdom, and other regions. This strategic expansion will enable Cellula to capitalize on emerging opportunities and solidify its position as a leading provider of advanced AUV solutions.
Neil Manning, Chief Executive Officer at Cellula Robotics added, "Cellula's continued growth and investment in its team are impressive. The new office at COVE provides a fantastic platform for the company to expand its operations in Atlantic Canada and connect with other innovative marine technology companies. We look forward to seeing Cellula's continued success.
Cellula & Metron Showcase Underwater Demonstrations to Global Clients
The “Technology Awareness Event” showcased long-endurance, autonomous UUVs capable of delivering multiple payloads in communication-restricted areas.
BURNABY, BC, CANADA, -- Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to announce the successful completion of a series of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) demonstrations in partnership with Metron Inc. These demonstrations showcased the capabilities of our ANCC+Solus solution to customers from Canadian, United States, and United Kingdom defence agencies, as well as the commercial offshore energy sector.
This Technology Awareness Event marks the beginning of a series of demonstrations throughout 2024, showcasing the next-generation UUVs developed by Metron and Cellula, who announced their strategic partnership in February 2024, around the same time Cellula’s CEO Neil Manning was announced.
The demonstrations represent a significant milestone in our strategic partnership with Metron. Together, we have leveraged our expertise in hardware, software, and fuel cells to deliver a fully integrated, scalable, and production-ready UUV solution capable of meeting complex mission requirements.
The in-water demonstrations featured two versions of the ANCC+Solus platform, highlighting its versatility and adaptability for various applications. This achievement marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide cutting-edge autonomous underwater technology to the global market.
ANCC+Solus is a cutting-edge, self-sufficient aerial platform designed for extended missions. Powered by hydrogen fuel cells, it offers unparalleled endurance and range. Equipped with a diverse array of sensors, including the NORBIT WINGHEAD™, it can gather critical data in even the most challenging conditions. Its versatile payload capacity allows for customization to meet specific mission requirements, making it ideal for operations in areas with limited or disrupted communication. With its exceptional capabilities, ANCC+Solus sets a new standard for long-duration, persistent aerial surveillance.
Technology Awareness Event offered a unique opportunity to showcase the groundbreaking advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, particularly within the ANCC +Solus portfolio. Cellula Robotics was thrilled to provide attendees with an in-depth look at our innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology and production capabilities.
The morning session commenced with a guided tour of our Burnaby, Canada facility, where visitors had the chance to witness firsthand the state-of-the-art manufacturing processes behind our hydrogen fuel cells. Our experts were on hand to explain the intricacies of this clean and efficient energy source, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the transportation industry.
Following the facility tour, attendees experienced a hands-on demonstration of our hydrogen fuel cell technology. This interactive experience allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of the technology's capabilities and its role in enabling autonomous vehicles to operate with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
In conjunction with our partners, Metron and NORBIT, we showcased the synergistic benefits of our integrated technologies. Our advanced hydrogen fuel cells, combined with Metron's Resilient Mission Autonomy and NORBIT's advanced sensor systems, create a powerful solution for autonomous vehicles that can navigate complex environments and perform critical missions with exceptional reliability.
The afternoon session was a spectacular showcase of aquatic capabilities. We conducted four missions off the coast of Vancouver, Canada, demonstrating the Solus-LR and Solus-XR's versatility and efficiency. Each mission highlighted key features tailored to our customer’s needs: seamless transit and deployment, real-time mission planning and adaptation, and advanced autonomous networking. The grand finale featured a mesmerizing synchronized swim between the two vehicles, showcasing their ability to collaborate seamlessly in multi-vehicle operations.
“Last week’s demonstrations showcased the power of collaboration and teamwork between Metron, Cellula, and NORBIT, as we advance the art of the possible in the undersea domain," stated Van Gurley, CEO of Metron Inc. “We are jointly delivering truly disruptive innovation in UUV capabilities, rapidly fielding solutions that can scale with our customer’s requirements. The in-water demonstrations highlighted the remarkable impact the ANCC+Solus UUV solutions deliver. These aren’t just design ideas, these are actual vehicles, in the water, proving our capabilities for full autonomy, ease of operations, and adaptative and precise mission planning for complex extended missions.”
Cellula’s Neil Manning stated: “The Technology Awareness Event gave us the opportunity to demonstrate not only our technology but also the strength of our partnership. Combining unique, long range autonomous underwater vehicles with the mission-based autonomy of Metron in front of key end-users showed the potential of what is achievable. Our ultra long-range AUVs enable operators to imagine mission profiles that were not feasible until now.”
Peter K. Eriksen, Business Unit Director, NORBIT Oceans commented “It is important to demonstrate both system performance and functionality, so with our sensor suite involving WINGHEAD™ Forward Looking and Bathymetric multibeam sonars, together with PingDSP 3DSS™ imaging 3D sidescan technology as well as INNOMAR Sub Bottom Profilers, the Technology Awareness Event provided a valuable market partner platform to highlight the capability and need for high resolution, clean and mission ready payload sensors on vehicles. We now look forward to extending our cooperation with Cellula together with Metron to provide the mission ready operational sensor delivery.
Cellula Robotics Ltd.
Cellula Robotics Ltd. is a proudly Canadian, privately owned, world-leading marine technology company focused on revolutionizing underwater survey and security through advanced, modular long endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems.
Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia with additional offices on the East Coast of Canada and the United States, Cellula employs over 80 dedicated professionals, including highly skilled engineers, designers, and technicians.
Driven by innovation and industry knowledge, we are committed to crafting sustainable solutions for the defence, offshore energy, and scientific sectors. Our hydrogen fuel cell-powered long range AUVs address evolving demands, propelling us towards a greener future.
Our unyielding commitment to quality is evident through our ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System that not only underscores our dedication to excellence but also reflects our ability to consistently surpass the expectations of our clients. www.cellula.com
About Metron Inc.
Metron Inc. is an award-winning, trusted provider of advanced research, scientific, and software solutions for government and commercial markets. The Company delivers a competitive edge for our customers in five key areas: analytics, autonomy, decision support, sensor processing, fusion, and custody. Our multi-domain expertise spans Bayesian inference, probabilistic modeling, artificial intelligence, machine learning, tracking and data fusion. Grounded in a first principled approach, Metron solutions transform information into intelligent action.
Founded in 1984, Metron is employee-owned and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with U.S. locations in Portland, Denver, San Diego, and Honolulu. www.metsci.com
NORBIT Oceans
NORBIT Oceans delivers tailored technology solutions to the international maritime markets. The diversified customer base includes survey companies, research organizations, military, governmental institutions, dredging companies, rental companies, offshore construction clients, and marine contractors.
Through Oceans, NORBIT specializes in designing and developing a range of different sonars, including wideband multibeam sonars, 3D sidescan sonars; sub bottom profilers, and long-range surveillance sonars, for exploring the ocean space.
NORBIT bathymetric sonars are used for seabed mapping, construction support, inspection, and subsurface navigation with multiple other applications subsea. NORBIT is also a provider of security and monitoring solutions for detecting and monitoring activity at sea. Using forward looking sonars allows detection of threats below the surface and NORBIT technology can be used for obstacle avoidance on underwater vehicles such as AUVs; mine countermeasures and threat target detection and tracking of divers or other moving objects to critical infrastructure.
Additionally, monitoring solutions above the water surface are provided through an integrated offering, where NORBIT delivers sensors, control systems, and surveillance solutions, providing the customers with a single common operational picture for decision support and operational risk management. Furthermore, NORBIT also offers other technologies and products in some selected niches in the maritime domain. www.norbit.com
Cellula Robotics Welcomes Richard Mills to Leadership Team Amidst Global Expansion
Burnaby, BC — Cellula Robotics is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Mills as its new Chief Commercial Officer. A seasoned expert with over 16 years in the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) industry, Richard joins the company at a pivotal time of growth and innovation.
Cellula Robotics is experiencing rapid growth, driven by its innovative approach and expanding market presence. As part of its global expansion initiative, the company recognized the need for a leader based in the UK who understands the intricacies of the subsea industry and shares Cellula’s vision for the future.
Richard’s extensive experience and commitment to excellence make him an ideal fit for Cellula. He began his career in the subsea industry with International Submarine Engineering (ISE) Ltd. in Vancouver, Canada. He then spent a decade leading Kongsberg Marine Robotics' sales team, where he honed his skills in driving business growth and fostering industry relationships.
Richard has been an active member of the Society of Underwater Technology's Panel on Underwater Robotics and a life member of the Marine Technology Society. He has volunteered as a technical reviewer for the IEEE OES Oceans conference for over a decade and served as a board member for Eelume AS.
"I am very excited to be joining Cellula at such a pivotal time in the AUV industry," said Richard Mills. "The adoption of long-range systems by the subsea and seabed warfare community across the defence sector is accelerating. We are also seeing offshore energy operators evaluate long range autonomous vehicles, especially where lifecycle emissions are a growing consideration. When we couple long endurance with the ability to loiter, deploy, and potentially recover off-platform assets, the operational future is almost unlimited across defence, commercial, and science applications. The Solus range of hydrogen-powered AUVs provides a real opportunity to do something quite different."
Neil Manning, CEO, added, “Appointing Richard as our Chief Commercial Officer enables wider international growth, with that Cellula needs a highly experienced C-Suite across multiple time zones for consistent client engagement. With Richard joining us and bringing his experience, this also attracts more talent internationally into Cellula. Our Vancouver-based team has proudly established itself as one of the most talented and experienced Autonomous underwater vehicle teams in the market today. Cellula’s subsea hydrogen fuel cell technology and engineering team have developed and successfully built over 20 vehicle systems prior to, or during their employment with Cellula. Richard's market approach and network within the Marine Autonomy market made him a clear choice for Cellula's growth plans. I’m excited to have Richard as part of the Cellula team, matched with our technology partners we’re confident in establishing a stronger market position to meet long-endurance multi-functional marine robotic systems.”
Cellula Robotics is poised for continued growth and innovation, driven by its commitment to sustainable, autonomous underwater solutions. The addition of Richard Mills to the leadership team reinforces this commitment and positions the company for success in an evolving global market.
About Cellula Robotics
Cellula Robotics Ltd. is a Canadian, privately owned, world-leading marine technology company focused on revolutionizing underwater security through advanced Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems.
Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia, with additional offices on the East Coast of Canada and the United States, Cellula employs over 80 dedicated professionals, including highly skilled engineers, designers, and technicians.
Driven by a mission to redefine the paradigm of underwater security, Cellula Robotics Ltd. harnesses the potential of cutting-edge AUVs to change the way the world approaches subsea security. Through innovation and industry knowledge, the company is committed to crafting sustainable solutions for the defence, mineral exploration, and energy sectors. Cellula's hydrogen fuel cell-powered long-range AUVs address evolving demands, propelling the company towards a greener future.
Cellula's unyielding commitment to quality is evident through its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, which underscores its dedication to excellence and reflects its ability to consistently surpass client expectations.
Mission: Change the paradigm of underwater security.
Vision: Using sustainable, autonomous solutions to collect data on a scale to match the vastness of our oceans.
Tagline: Proven, Trusted Autonomy
Core Values
Excellence: Unyielding commitment to surpass expectations through dedication and a relentless work ethic.
Reliability: Dedicated to being a reliable partner, upholding commitments, and delivering quality solutions while prioritizing safety and environmental responsibility.
Innovation: Thriving on creativity and pioneering change to lead the industry with sustainable and groundbreaking solutions.
Adaptability: Agile and responsive to market shifts and client demands, encouraging innovative problem-solving.
Cellula Robotics is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of the organization. The company actively works to understand and remove barriers to equity and inclusion, ensuring a culture of respect where all voices are valued.