News
originally supported by ONR. Contract
“ONR is excited to see iRobot licence the
Seaglider,” said ONR programme manager Teresa
Two to support
Paluszkiewicz. “Their ability to commercialise
RFA
cutting-edge technology innovations … should
help expand the use of this new tool.” The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded
iRobot is best known as the manufacturer of contracts worth £250 million (US$444.9 million)
PackBots, used by explosive ordnance disposal to two companies to maintain the ships of the
experts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The contracts have
Seagliders are autonomous underwater vehicles been placed with Northwestern Shiprepairers and
that rely on a buoyancy-based propulsion system, Shipbuilders (NSL) and the A&P Group.
which allows them to ‘glide’ slowly through the The RFA is organised into ‘clusters’ of ships
oceans for extremely long durations of weeks according to their duties and capabilities and the
or months, and were developed by a team of contractors will maintain ‘clusters’. NSL, based in
researchers at the University of Washington, led by Birkenhead, has received a £180 million contract
Dr Charlie Erikson since 1995. for four clusters with a total of 11 ships. A&P
Seagliders are ideal for collecting oceanographic Group has received a £53 million contract for
measurement data, and are especially valued because two clusters with five ships with the work shared
they are far less expensive than manned research between Falmouth and Newcastle on Tyne.
vessels and can cover far greater geographic areas The new arrangement replaces a scheme that
than traditional buoys. A Seaglider travels at 0.5knots saw individual contracts competed as, and when,
on 0.5watts of power and can dive from the surface they were required. The MoD believes the new
down 3300ft (914m) and back up every 3-9 hours. It programme will not only improve fleet support
remains at the surface long enough to transmit data it but will ultimately save up to £330 million. NSL
has collected, relay its position and receive instructions has already begun work on a six-month refit of the
via a satellite phone network, before diving again. underway replenishment ship RFA Fort George and
Warship Technology October 2008 11
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