The coastal AUV programme:

Scientific survey down to 3000 m depth with medium size autonomous vehicles.


© Ifremer

Asterx key figures:

  • depth rating 3000 m
  • lenght 4,5 m
  • total weight in air 793 kg including 200 kg payload displacement
  • autonomy 100 km max
  • speed up to 5 knt
  • optimized mono-hull design
  • 4 air transport LD3 containers

Payload flexibility:   

  • side scan sonar
  • multibeam echo sounder
  • sub bottom profiler
  • CTD
  • ADCP
  • fishery sounder
  • water sampling ...

Integrated navigation:

  • long range acoustic telemetry
  • inertial Doppler dead reckoning
  • inverse USBL navigation


© Ifremer

Safe deployment

  • autonomous relocation pinger
  • communication: acoustic, modem, radio RF beacon
  • telescopic mast
  • ballast sphere for seabed parking