New autonomous underwater demonstrator to be launched next year

BAE Systems has announced a collaboration with Cellula Robotics to showcase the capabilities of its new Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XLAUV), known as Herne, on a technology demonstrator in the water in the second half of 2024.

Recent acts of sub-sea aggression highlight the strategic importance of the underwater domain, the need to protect the critical national infrastructure within it and the inherent challenges. Autonomous platforms, like Herne, could have a role in helping militaries overcome the challenge that the vast expanses of the underwater battlespace present, enabling them to monitor much larger areas without the limitations of a human crew and in a far more cost-effective way.

Herne will provide a capability built on BAE Systems’ deep understanding of its military customers to deliver the persistence and flexibility needed for the future. Its adaptable design will allow the platform to be configured to conduct operations including: anti-submarine warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and electronic warfare.

The demonstrator project, will test the ‘brains’ of the BAE Systems military XLAUV on one of Cellula Robotics’ underwater vehicles in trials set to take place next year at a facility on the south coast of England.

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 Ltd. Strengthens Leadership Team with New Corporate Development Officer, Neil Manning

Cellula Robotics Ltd., a renowned pioneer in AUV systems and subsea fuel-cell power, is delighted to announce the appointment of Neil Manning as its new Corporate Development Officer. This strategic move aligns with the company's dynamic expansion in both size and technical expertise over the past 18 months.

Neil Manning brings an exceptional wealth of experience to Cellula, with an impressive career spanning over 27 years in the Submarine Telecommunications and Oil & Gas industries. His primary focus has been on subsea technology and engineering solutions, where he has successfully developed and managed business strategies based on groundbreaking technological advancements to solve industry challenges. Notably, Neil played a pivotal role in the growth of CDL, a leading subsea inertial sensor company, which was later acquired by Teledyne. He then spearheaded the establishment and global success of 3D at Depth, a world-leading LIDAR technology and offshore survey company. His unparalleled expertise in identifying market gaps and delivering innovative solutions has consistently provided a competitive edge, setting companies apart from the competition.

“Being part of this team and contributing to the company's mission is incredibly exciting,” remarks Neil Manning. “Having served as a business advisor to Cellula, I am deeply impressed by the company's potential. It is clear to me that their team and technology can make significant contributions to the security and sustainability of our oceans. Traditional marine vessels used for studying and monitoring the oceans are not only limited by access points but also leave a substantial carbon footprint. Cellula's trusted autonomous solutions operate with net-zero carbon emissions, require minimal in-field crew thanks to port-to-port operations and are ideal for long-range under ice operations. Cellula stands as a seasoned market disrupter in this field, harnessing unparalleled opportunities presented by this groundbreaking technology.”

"We are thrilled to welcome Neil to the Cellula team," states Eric Jackson, President of Cellula Robotics Ltd. "His extensive expertise, intuitive insights, and unwavering professionalism will undoubtedly propel Cellula towards its next phase of growth within the industry. Furthermore, Neil's addition to our leadership team will strengthen our position as the foremost provider of AUV systems."

Throughout his distinguished career, Neil Manning has demonstrated remarkable leadership capabilities, building top-performing teams and implementing effective organizational structures. By harnessing the collective energy of sales, product development, and service applications, he has consistently surpassed customer expectations. Neil's visionary leadership has also facilitated organic growth and investment capital, enabling companies to seize opportunities and realize their full potential.

With Neil Manning onboard as the Corporate Development Officer, Cellula Robotics Ltd. is poised to forge ahead as an industry leader, embracing innovation and driving transformative advancements in AUV systems and subsea fuel-cell power.

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.