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DriX O-16

Transoceanic USV

The DriX O-16 is Exail’s newest transoceanic Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), designed for unrestricted navigation and long-duration missions lasting up to 30 days. Engineered as a versatile platform, it supports a wide array of payloads and multi-vehicle operations, making it ideal for tackling the most challenging applications. The DriX O-16 establishes a new standard for transoceanic surveys and surface-to-subsurface operations.

Features

  • Length: 15.75m
  • Breadth:  1.83 m
  • Draft:  2.55 m
  • Mono-hull material: Infusion Epoxy, E-Glass / PVC
  • Weight: 10.5 t
  • Propulsion: dual hybrid diesel electrical propulsion
  • Fuel capacity: 2,300  l
  • Drive: 120 kW Diesel Engine + Azipod 20 kW Electrical Auxiliary propulsor
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DriX O-16: a reliable, sustainable, and long-endurance USV

Endurance and transoceanic capability

The DriX O-16 is built for endurance, offering up to 30 days of autonomous operation , making it well-suited for extended, long-range missions. With a range of 3,500 nautical miles , this USV is designed to tackle transoceanic surveys and missions in the most challenging environments. Its robust autonomy allows for continuous operations in remote areas, ensuring reliable performance across vast distances, making it a game-changing asset for long-duration exploration and monitoring.

Redundant architecture and dual hybrid propulsion for maximum reliability

The DriX O-16 is equipped with a redundant and dual hybrid propulsion system, providing superior robustness and operational safety. With electric and diesel power combined, it ensures energy efficiency and backup power generation for extended endurance, guaranteeing reliable performance in even the most demanding maritime environments.

A sustainable and cost-effective solution

The DriX O-16 is designed with sustainability and cost-efficiency in mind. Its autonomous operation reduces the need for large support vessels, significantly lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions during missions. Additionally, its long endurance and ability to carry versatile payloads in a single deployment minimize operational costs, making it not only an environmentally friendly solution but also a highly economical platform for extended maritime operations.

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Versatile payload and multi-vehicle deployment

A wide range of sensors for multiple missions’ capabilities

Engineered for versatility, the DriX O-16 supports a wide range of payloads and systems, including:

In addition to its underwater capabilities, the DriX O-16 has a wide aft deck enabling the installation of surface payload such as winches, oceanographic sensors...

Underwater vehicles deployement

The USV can also be equipped with a  launch and recovery system for deploying various underwater robots: 

This capability allows for complex multi-vehicles operations combining surface and underwater autonomy, enabling new concepts of operation whether for subsea assets inspection or scientific exploration.

Autonomous navigation at sea

Cortix Autononmy

 The Drix O-16 is equipped with the CortiX system. CortiX is Exail's advanced autonomy solution designed to deliver high-level autonomy for maritime surface platforms. Initially integrated with the Drix H-8, CortiX has evolved into a versatile solution adaptable to various vessels. With over 100,000 hours of operational experience at sea, it has proven its reliability in both Line-of-Sight and OVer-the-Horizon missions.




Obstacle avoidance for security at sea

In terms of maritime security, the DriX O-16 is equipped with the CortiX obstacle avoidance system (OAS).

In addition to surface obstacle detection via Video and IR cameras, LiDAR, radar and AIS, the Drix O-16 is also equipped with a Forward-Looking Sonar (FLS 5) for the detection of obstacles in the water column.

With its fusion engine, the CortiX OAS combines the different sensors outputs and automatically computes avoidance routes to help the remote supervisor and ensures safe and precise navigation, even in restricted or congested areas.

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Unrestricted navigation and Over the Horizon (OTH) Operations

  • Redundant multi channels communication infrastructure

    • Designed for unrestricted navigation, the DriX O-16 is equipped with a redundant multi channels communication infrastructure combining Starlink, Iridium Certus Satellite communication and 4G for OTH operation. CORTIX autonomously selects the optimal communication mode (SATCOMM, 4G) based on the environment.


  • Efficient Data Transfer
    • Enhances bandwidth usage, reduces operational costs, and prioritizes critical data with minimal bandwidth.

  • Global Remote Monitoring:
OTH operations can be supervised from anywhere with high-speed internet, via a secured, encrypted connection to the CortiX cloud platform. The CortiX cloud deployment provides a high level of versatility in managing the location of the Remote Operation Centers (ROC).

A wide range of applications

  • Hydrography
    • Seabed mapping for nautical charts
    • Fairways and port surveys

  • Energy & telecommunication
    • Pipeline route and inspection / Pipe prelay surveys
    • Port and harbor development
    • ROV and AUV positioning
    • LBL array calibration
    • Pre site, site and inspection survey
    • Dredging

  • Oceanography & Environmental
    • Seabed/habitat classification
    • Shallow stratigraphy/geology
    • Fisheries/biomass characterization
    • Water column characterization (current, turbidity…)

  • Defense
    • Military bathymetry
    • Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA)
    • Anti-submarine warfare
    • Emergency disaster relief
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