Novel Robotics
bionic uncrewed underwater vehicles
Over years of R&D work for various projects, EvoLogics robotics team came up with innovative uncrewed underwater vehicles with cutting-edge bionic designs that took the best features from their wildlife counterparts.
Envisioned as sensor carriers for automated monitoring missions, the three latest UUVs are entering the final stages of development for commercial use.
These include the Quadroin AUV, the Poggy AUV, and the MiniROV hybrid robots.
Quadroin AUV
The Quadroin is a next generation AUV with low-drag bionic design.
EvoLogics’ founder Dr. Rudolf Bannasch studied Adelie penguins and their highly efficient locomotion since the 1980s, with several field trips to the Antarctic and numerous experiments in wind tunnels and water tanks. Innovative spindle-shaped flow bodies, modeled after penguins, achieve ultra-low drag coefficients in the water.
The technical design choices maintain the shape and contour of an idealized penguin-like body without protruding parts to facilitate the highest drag efficiency. Driven by four rear thrusters, this AUV shows excellent hydrodynamic performance and maneuverability. It is up to 10 knots fast and highly energy efficient.
A first practical application comprises a swarm of (up to) 10 Quadroin AUVs designed by EvoLogics together with Prof. Burkard Baschek during his time at the German Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon for monitoring water currents and nutrient fluxes in sea vortices. For this purpose, the Quadroins are equipped with special multiparameter probes (customized by Sea & Sun Technology) and trained to successively scan the water column at different depth levels in formation flight.
Key features:
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High-speed vehicle for search, monitoring and communication support missions
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Bionic design based on outstanding hydrodynamic properties of a penguin’s body
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Custom sensors payload
Available 2024
Poggy AUV
Poggy is a bionic autonomous vehicle based on the Fin-Ray® technology.
The AUV is a one of a kind, novel bionic design with two propulsion thrusters and two independent flexible “tails” that give the robot unique mobility features.
Its dual-tail construction is an original idea that stemmed from previous work on EvoLogics’ Manta Ray AUV and its lifelike “flapping wing” propulsion system. The design was simplified and optimized - the robot lost the wings, and its tail was divided in two.
Both parts of the dual-tail use independent bionic Fin-Ray® drives and allow for precise heave, pitch and roll adjustments, enabling dynamic climbs and dives, leveled gliding and bottom following.
Due to the small size of its basic AUV components, Poggy has an excellent payload capacity and can carry multiple sensors and instruments at the same time.
In addition, the dual-tails facilitate unique maneuvers that could open new opportunities for detailed sensing and monitoring: the vehicle was designed to keep any desired roll angle and maintain a steady glide, even at very low speeds.
Key features:
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Stable and maneuverable vehicle for sonar surveys
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Bionic design with unique mobility features
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Outstanding roll and depth control combined with low drag performance
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Precise heave, pitch and roll adjustments enable dynamic climbs and dives, leveled gliding and seafloor following for efficient surveys
Available 2023
MiniROV hybrid
MiniROV is a turtle-shaped underwater vehicle that can operate both as a tethered ROV and a tether-free AUV.
Currently under development, the modular miniROV is targeting applications where stable position keeping and hovering is crucial to perform precise operations on and around underwater infrastructure.
Key features:
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Hybrid vehicle - tethered and autonomous modes possible
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Modular design
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Precise maneuvers and hovering for inspections
Available 2024
