Swedish innovator Njord Survey has chosen Sonardyne navigation technology for its ecoSUB Robotics autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to transform subsea survey operations.

Using Sonardyne’s smallest navigator, SPRINT-Nav U, on ecoSUB’s low-logistics AUVs, Njord Survey is targeting at-scale survey operations, starting with UXO surveys.

Underpinned by accurate navigation, deployment at scale will enable parallel operations, reducing vessel dependency, logistics, cost and time for these types of survey.

Combining detection and verification and allowing re-tasking, with the same easily transportable platforms, also means surveys can be delivered faster and more flexibly, without compromising data quality, says  Njord Survey.

Anders Wikmar, Survey and Technical Director, at the company, which provides high‑quality, low‑carbon hydrographic and geophysical surveys, says, “Our goal is bringing smart and cost-effective solutions to the market by pushing the boundaries working with partners like ecoSUB and Sonardyne.

“Using ecoSUB’s small AUVs at scale lets us move beyond one-platform, one-vessel operations and deploy multiple platforms in parallel, dramatically improving survey efficiency.

“By reducing vessel dependency and combining detection with visual verification on the same platform, we cut false targets, save further vessel time and can re-task vehicles quickly – delivering faster, more flexible surveys without compromising data quality.

“This can only work if each vehicle can collect data that is spatially reliable enough for detection, correlation and verification. SPRINT-Nav U provides the level of navigation performance we need, making these operational gains possible and that’s not something logistically possible or cost effective before.”

Iain Vincent, Director & General Manager, at ecoSUB Robotics, says, “With SPRINT-Nav U providing reliable, survey-grade navigation into our one person-portable AUVs, we’ve been able to move from standard, off-the-shelf designs to a more engineered, project-focused approach.

“This means creating vehicles that can carry high-quality payloads, operate independently and adapt to evolving customer needs. Together with Njord survey, we’re transforming small AUVs into scalable, primary survey platforms.”

Njord Survey plans to put its ecoSUB straight into operation on client projects to demonstrate benefits from day one as it proves and evolves its survey offering.

Aidan Thorn, Marine Robotics Business Development Manager, at Sonardyne, adds, “In the past, small-scale AUV navigation has been the limiting factor, because position accuracy hasn’t matched survey requirements.

“SPRINT-Nav U removed these limits. It is unlocking collaborations like this that show how by working together we can bring new, smart and cost-effective safe, secure and environmentally sound solutions into the market.”