NEWPORT – A team from General Dynamics Mission Systems and General Dynamics Electric Boat demonstrated the Bluefin Robotics line of unmanned underwater vehicles as part of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center’s 2017 Advanced Naval Technology Exercise.
The exercise, hosted by NUWC Division Newport in partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, took place Aug. 15-16 and exhibited cutting-edge technologies from more than 20 lead participants.
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The General Dynamics team, participating at the NUWC’s Narragansett Bay Test Facility in Newport, simulated an on-shore submarine combat-control center in real time, and used the control center to establish two-way communications with unmanned vehicles both underwater and in the air.
After deploying the Bluefin SandShark underwater vehicle, General Dynamics was able to communicate with the SandShark via a third-party unmanned aerial vehicle and alter the SandShark’s current mission while the device was operating in the water. In another demonstration, the SandShark successfully relayed information back to the control center via a fiber-optic cable connected to a surface buoy.
Both General Dynamics demonstrations were designed to tackle the communications challenges of operating in a contested, undersea environment.
“This demonstration proves that General Dynamics and its partners can solve significant challenges to establishing tactical-communication networks quickly and effectively using assets undersea, at the surface and in the air,” said Carlo Zaffanella, vice president and general manager of maritime and strategic systems for General Dynamics Mission Systems. “We look forward to working with our partners and the Navy to make these capabilities mission-ready.”
ANTX is an annual multiday event originally conceived by NUWC to demonstrate future U.S. Navy technology such as drones in action in a low-risk environment, allowing scientists and engineers to evaluate the technologies at the research-and-development level before prototypes are considered for militarization or integrated into U.S. Navy operations.
ANTX 2017 included demonstrations at both NUWC’s Narragansett Bay Test Facility and NSWC Panama City Division operational areas.
In addition to General Dynamics, Rhode Island startup PowerDocks LLC also participated in ANTX 2017. The marine-development firm recently launched its floating solar-panel Blue Isles platform in Newport Harbor, allowing boaters to access free Wi-Fi and recharge electric-powered vessels.
Other participating companies included Boeing Co., Aviation System Engineering Co., Domo Tactical Communications, Autonomous Surface Vessels, Hydroid Inc., L3 Technologies, iXblue, Adaptive Methods, DeTect Inc., Engineering Professional Services, Leidos, Northrup Grumman Corp., QinetiQ North America and SRI International.
“Events such as ANTX, with its focus on demonstrations of specific operational-based themes, underscore the value of rapid prototyping efforts,” said Don McCormack, executive director for Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers. “By incorporating warfighters’ needs and focusing on the outcomes, we can make improvements that build on lessons learned and transition these new technologies more quickly than ever before.”
Kaylen Auer is a PBN contributing writer.
