Ocius
Drones

Persistent maritime surveillance

Find out more

What is a USV?

A USV is an

Uncrewed
Surface
Vessel

There are two types:

  1. Conventional powered vessels which are uncrewed. They have limited time and range at sea and are acoustically noisy.
  2. Renewable energy powered vessels which are uncrewed. They use solar and/or wind and/or wave energy so are persistent and can stay at sea indefinitely only limited by biofouling. Bluebottles are in this category.

The Bluebottle USV

Satellites of the Sea

Autonomous data gathering and communication platforms

Bluebottle USVs have greater power, payload and performance compared to known competitors and are able to navigate freely and indefinitely across the world’s oceans. Already Ocius is working with two major private-sector partners to develop USVs capable of undertaking specific high value applications in hydrography and defence.

Watch video
Bluebottle Ocius

Key benefits of Bluebottle USVs

Bluebottle USV

  • Advance in all conditions
  • 5 knot hull speed
  • Launch from boat ramp / ship
  • 300kg modular payload
  • 100-120W average payload power
  • Intelligent network
  • Team behaviours
  • Human on the loop, not in the loop

Discriminators

  • Sail folds down for zero windage and tactical range advantage
  • Solar + wind + wave power
  • Ability to get out of currents
  • More payload, power and presence
  • Unique solar-sail and rudder-flipper
  • Keel winch to lower sensors to variable depths
  • 100% Australian Sovereign Capability

Advantages

  • Continuous coverage
  • Wide coverage
  • Greatly reduced capital costs
  • No fuel, food or crew
  • Elimination of errors due to human fatigue
  • No people or expensive assets in harm's way

Superior Payload,
Power & Performance

Bluebottle<sup>™</sup> USV with ABFC Thaiyak off Ashmore Reef
Bluebottle USV with ABFC Thaiyak off Ashmore Reef
UAV Photo taken courtesy ABFC Thaiyak Crew

Other persistent USVs carry only small payloads, have low power for the payload and often have low performance to manoeuvre, avoid collisions and 'make way' out of currents.

Bluebottles harvest all the weather on the ocean; the sun, the wind and the waves so they can advance under all conditions and can remain at sea for months at a time.

Applications for USVs are myriad and measured in the billions of dollars. Major entities in offshore energy, defence and science are investing heavily in uncrewed systems for “dull, dirty or dangerous” operations.

The team at Ocius is focusing all of our experience, networks and love of the sea to create a revolutionary Australian technology for the world’s oceans.

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Contact Us

Ocius Headquarters
Building R13
UNSW Randwick Campus
22 King St, Randwick NSW 2031

Postal Address
Mail PO Box 4304 Castlecrag
NSW 2068

General Enquiries:
+61 2 9924 6400
contact@ocius.com.au

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