Mini Underwater Drone Hydrus Maps Reefs and Hunts Shipwrecks
- tech360.tv
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
A compact autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) named Hydrus is transforming deep-sea exploration by offering a drone-like experience for marine research and archaeology.
Developed by Sydney-based company Advanced Navigation, Hydrus is less than 0.5 metres long and fully autonomous, equipped with a 4K camera capable of capturing 60 frames per second and generating detailed 3D photogrammetry models.
Hydrus has a depth rating of 3,000 metres, a range of 9 kilometres, and a battery life of up to three hours. It is already in use by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to survey coral reefs in the North West Shelf region.
The Western Australian Museum has also used Hydrus to create a 3D model of a shipwreck near Perth, aiding maritime archaeology efforts.
Unlike traditional underwater vehicles, Hydrus is designed to be as user-friendly as an aerial drone. It operates wirelessly, with inductive charging and data transfer via Wi-Fi or an optical modem, eliminating the need for tethers or bulky recovery equipment.
Advanced Navigation achieved this miniaturisation by designing pressure-tolerant electronics and waterproof composite shells, allowing the drone to function in high-pressure, corrosive environments without the need for heavy titanium housings.
The drone’s autonomous navigation system includes inertial navigation, sonar for seabed tracking, and Doppler-based speed measurement. Users can simply program waypoints and deploy the drone without specialised training.
Hydrus also features a low-bandwidth acoustic communication channel for basic commands like “stop” or “come home.”
Peter Baker, subsea product manager at Advanced Navigation, said the drone’s small size reduces operational costs significantly. “You can pick it up with a fishing net,” he said, noting that smaller boats can be used, which drastically cuts expenses.
AIMS purchased two Hydrus units to enhance reef monitoring, particularly in areas too deep or dangerous for divers. The drones will be used to collect data on coral health at Scott Reef and Ashmore Reef, helping researchers track the effects of climate change and detect early signs of reef degradation.
Melanie Olsen, technology development program lead at AIMS, said the ease of use and operational readiness of Hydrus make it ideal for fieldwork. “You need something that users can turn on and go,” she said.
Ross Anderson, curator at the Western Australian Museum, praised the drone’s potential to make underwater exploration more accessible. “If people can go and throw one of these off the boat, just like they can throw a drone up in the air, that will obviously benefit the exploration of the sea,” he said.
Hydrus is expected to become a standard tool in ocean monitoring and maritime archaeology, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for deep-sea data collection.
Hydrus is a compact, autonomous underwater drone developed by Advanced Navigation
It is being used to survey coral reefs and model shipwrecks in Western Australia
The drone operates wirelessly and is designed for ease of use, similar to aerial drones
Source: IEEE SPECTRUM