Ixblue News

There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…

Maritime and offshore mobile satellite communications specialist Inmarsat has installed a new connectivity solution on SEA-KIT's uncrewed surface vessel (USV) Maxlimer using virtualized networks that the company says will establish higher standards for over-the-horizon uncrewed vessel control.The installation connects the USV Maxlimer to the best available network at all times by switching as necessary between Fleet LTE, Global Xpress (GX) and FleetBroadband satellite services when out of range…

Bureau Veritas (BV) delivered an Approval in Principle (AiP) to iXblue for its Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) DriX, an AiP that addresses the safety requirements of the marine drone, which operates under the novel concept of remotely supervised autonomy.With a length of 8m, DriX is an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) equipped with advanced perception means, including a radar, a lidar and cameras, as well as artificial intelligence, which enable it to adapt to its environment, avoid obstacles and carry out missions autonomously.

While the adoption of unmanned/uncrewed surfaces vessels (USVs) was initially in defence, use of these low footprint systems has spread into other sectors, not least survey, and now the race is on for greater capability, endurance and autonomy. Elaine Maslin reports.After starting small, in inland waterways, use of USVs for survey operations has moved into coastal and now offshore waters. Given the extensive amount of seabed and rapid growth in offshore wind, there’s plenty of work out there for them to do.With the travel restrictions posed by Covid and increasing awareness of climate change…

French tech company iXblue will deliver inertial navigation systems and gyrocompasses for new Royal Australian Navy’s SEA1180 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV). Based on Fiber-Optic Gyroscope technology, iXblue’s inertial navigation systems will provide the 12 new Arafura Class vessels with highly accurate and reliable navigation capabilities in all environments, including within GNSS-denied operational areas, iXblue said.David Cunningham, commercial director at iXblue: "We would…

iXblue said it has been selected by Naval Group to supply navigation systems for two Gowind corvettes intended for the international market. These two future combat corvettes will be fitted with Marins navigation systems and Netans data distribution and processing units.Based on fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) technology, iXblue navigation solutions already equip more than 650 surface ships and underwater platforms in 40 navies and coast guards, including major programs such as the French Navy's future FDI…

UK-based survey specialist Bibby HydroMap have announced the successful completion of testing of ‘DriX’, the 8-metre Autonomous Unmanned Survey Vessel (AUSV) developed by iXblue.Designed to provide a true extension of survey capability from shallow and inshore waters to a full offshore environment, DriX is a new breed of AUSV that is the first autonomous survey platform to truly rival the performance of a traditional survey vessel.The versatile system has the ability to accommodate a hydrographic and geophysical survey payload and to aid positioning of underwater vehicles, facilitating data collection on a variety of marine projects.Guillaume Edeline…

Naval Group has started to select the first equipment suppliers for the five future intermediate-size frigates (FTI) intended for the French Ministry of Defense. In the framework of the execution of the contract awarded by the French Defence Procurement Agency in April 2017, Naval Group initiated its process of selecting the program's industrial suppliers for the five future intermediate-size frigates, the first of which will be delivered to the French Navy in 2023. "We expect a lot from our suppliers," said Frédéric Massa, Director of Naval Group Purchasing.

OceanGate, a provider of manned submersible services, and iXBlue, a provider of navigation, positioning and imaging solutions, have partnered to expand the application and use of advanced marine navigation and sonar equipment to explore the world’s deep oceans. As part of the alliance, OceanGate has selected the iXBlue PHINS Inertial Navigation System for use aboard its fleet of Cyclops series manned submersibles. Reportedly a world first, the PHINS system has been installed on a manned submersible to deliver real-time navigational data directly to the pilot.

PIRIOU selects iXBlue’s QUADRANS as reference gyrocompass for the French Navy B2M multi-mission ship program as iXBlue QUADRANS sales tops 400 units since launch. For each vessel, iXBlue will supply the complete navigation suite, including QUADRANS gyrocompass, NETANS data distribution and processing unit, and the warfare navigation software. iXBlue is a global provider of navigation, positioning and imaging solutions and services for civil and defense applications. PIRIOU specializes in the design, construction and repair of high value-added ships.

iXBlue announced it is to supply QUADRANS fiber-optic gyrocompass systems for installation aboard the four new Tide Class tankers of the U.K. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The systems to be supplied to Kelvin Hughes Limited will be integrated as a sub-system of the Integrated Bridge Systems for delivery to Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea where the vessels are under construction. The deliveries will comprise twin QUADRANS gyrocompass units, control…

iXBlue has been selected to provide inertial navigation systems for the two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers currently being built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance for the U.K. Royal Navy. The bridge system for each of the carriers will incorporate two iXBlue MARINS units. Trials have already been conducted to optimise the configuration of the units to meet the specific operational requirements of the vessels. David Cunningham, iXBlue Ltd. General Manager, said, "[MARINS] was designed by iXBlue to meet the growing needs of the world’s navies for more accurate and robust inertial navigation systems and incorporates iXBlue’s state-of-the-art fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) technology.

DutchWorkboats and Stema Systems introduced the “Survey-machine” at Europort 2013. This survey boat is in production once it is on location – it is a carefree money maker to her owners. Surveyors keep high standards of data quality and yet are able to keep ahead of dredging, deliver contract surveys in time, survey several projects in a day. The ‘Survey-machine’ provides the tools. Survey-machine is not just a claim. This is an elaborate concept of a trailerable, fast and comfortable survey boat, with built-in and calibrated high-end survey tools.

Heeding the call to join “An Ocean in Common,” authors flooded the Oceans ‘13 MTS/IEEE San Diego technical program committee with a record number of abstracts in a single day. Special topics include an Ultra-deep track discussing current and prospective robotic technologies, plus a panel of scientists to consider research questions. Oceans2013 Chair Bob Wernli, and Co-Chair Kevin Hardy, developer of the unmanned landers for James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge Expedition, will be the session conveners. “James’ intention is to be certain the door remains open to other explorers,” Hardy said.

iXBlue now offers its customers a five-year free warranty on QUADRANS, the latest gyrocompass manufactured by iXBlue. This product is based on the new 50 mm diameter fiber optic gyroscope (FOG50) developed internally by iXBlue. According to iXBlue, this product benefits from the company’s research and development’s constant effort to improve performance and to increase the already unrivaled reliability of our products. This effort also relies on our unique experience of more than 30 million hours’ operation for iXBlue FOG in very demanding environments such as offshore or space markets.

iXBlue has launched the next generation of its underwater global acoustic positioning system (GAPS), designated GAPS-NG. The manufacturers say that GAPS-NG, like its predecessor GAPS, is a truly portable and precalibrated ultra-short baseline positioning system (USBL) that incorporates INS and GPS technologies. The system is designed to work in demanding environments, notably acoustically challenging and/or extremely shallow waters, where other systems commonly fall down. “Our overall aim with the new system was to make life even better for the user…

H2X, a member of iXBlue’s marine works division, has been awarded a contract to build a 43-meter monohull survey vessel by a Saudi Arabian university specializing in hydrographic and oceanographic studies. The vessel will be of a standard design with various modifications to meet defined operational needs. Constructed mainly from lightweight composite materials, the vessel will be propelled by two diesel and two classical shaft lines for transits, and by a pump-jet azimuthal stern thruster and have a bow thruster to ensure maximum manoeuvrability…