Drones continue to explore the underwater space. Yesterday, February 7, the press service of the Agency for Advanced Defense Projects (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense announced the signing of contracts for the development of underwater unmanned vehicles.
"The Manta Ray project aims to develop an unmanned underwater vehicle that will operate for a long time without the need for logistical support or on-site maintenance. It also addresses critical issues related to energy management, drone reliability, biofouling, corrosion control, navigation, underwater collision prevention, and many other areas that can benefit Navy operations, " the DARPA press service said.
Artistic rendering of an underwater drone
Image source: darpa.mil
The Manta Ray project was launched last year. Three companies announced their participation: Northrop Grumman Systems, Martin Defense Group (formerly Navatek) and Metron. At the beginning of this year, the first phase of the project — a review of design proposals-was completed. As a result, Northrop Grumman Systems and Martin Defense Group received contracts for the further development of underwater vehicle projects, and Metron-for the development of an energy collection subsystem.
The second phase of the project should be completed by the end of this year. As a result of the final design review, companies can receive contracts for the production of full-featured prototypes. "Each participant in the Manta Ray project takes a unique approach to solving a wide range of problems related to the endurance of drones. For me, this is a clear sign that we are solving a complex problem without having a clear universal solution, " said Kyle Werner, Manta Ray Program Manager.
The US Navy is already developing underwater drones, but they are smaller copies of classic submarines that can operate without a crew. The Manta Ray project aims to create underwater drones that can operate autonomously on long-range missions in the ocean environment, as well as carry a variety of payloads.
