EGS Survey's hydrographic USVs to be fitted with GAMA autonomous software

EGS Survey Australia's Fremantle 01 unmanned surface vehicle. (Greenroom Robotics)

EGS Survey Australia has signed an agreement with Perth-based Greenroom Robotics to equip its future hydrographic unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) with Greenroom Robotics' artificial intelligence (AI)-based navigation software.

Under the agreement, EGS Survey's future Fremantle-class USVs will be integrated with Greenroom Robotics' Greenroom Advanced Maritime Autonomy (GAMA) navigation software to enhance their capabilities to conduct hydrographic operations, the companies announced on 10 December.

Greenroom Robotics has previously supplied the GAMA software for EGS Survey's Fremantle 01 USV. A spokesperson for Greenroom Robotics told Janes on 11 December that the GAMA-equipped Fremantle 01 USV has conducted hydrographic operations for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of the Department of Defence (DoD's) HydroScheme Industry Partnership Program (HIPP) project.

The DoD announced in 2020 that it is initiating the HIPP project, worth AUD150 million (USD99.9 million), to employ the latest hydrographic techniques developed by industry.

“Fremantle 01 completed a survey mission under the HIPP project in May, and this partnership [between EGS Survey and Greenroom Robotics] is for a fleet-wide agreement following the success of the mission,” the spokesperson said.

“Fremantle 01 will continue to be available for use by HIPP and commercial organisations,” the spokesperson added.

According to company specifications, Fremantle 01 has a length of 12 m, a height of 2.8 m, a width of 2.5 m, and a maximum displacement of 7.85 tonnes. The USV has an endurance of 10 days and a speed of 14 kt.