During a recent deep water trials campaign in Madeira, an ecoSUm25-Science Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) was launched and successfully completed a spiral behaviour to provide vertical profiling of the water column down to 2,000m depth, and back again.

The ecoSUBm25-Science AUV is a disruptive technology, based on the extremely affordable ecoSUBm series AUV platform, it weighs just 12kg and is depth rated to 2,500m. Whilst most deep rated AUV technology is based on large and expensive platforms, costing millions of dollars, the ecoSUB platform is in the tens of thousands, providing a step-change in accessibility to autonomous ocean data collection for the marine science community and others.

The ecoSUBm25-Science AUV was equipped with a CTD and a Chelsea Technologies TriLux sensor, providing measurements of Conductivity, Temperature, Chlorophyll, Turbidity and Phycoerythrin. The m25 platform is also capable of hosting sensors to measure Dissolved Oxygen, CDOM, pH, Oil in Water, as well as navigation sensors such as altimeters and DVL, along with acoustic coms for underwater communications.

The 2,000m depth mission was completed on 30 July 2024. Launch and recovery was from Observatoio 1, a fast RIB research vessel, kindly provided by the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira, who generously supported the trials providing workshop and vessel support. This mission marks a world-AUV-first, industry leading 2,000m deployment for a micro-AUV system – proving real world technology to aid ocean data collection.

Furthermore, on board navigation and mission parameters maintained a launch point and recovery point separation of just 125 meters, demonstrating the systems ability to maintain a straight down and straight up capability. Total mission length was 1h 40m. Maximum depth recorded was 2,002 meters.

For more information about the ecoSUB family of affordable AUV systems please visit and contact us via www.ecosub.uk. View a short video of the mission here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4K7T8Ij7KM

Return to news