Unmanned underwater vehicles of the Bayonet family (USA)
Bayonet 150 Lightweight Platform Tests
To perform various works and solve problems at depth, numerous unmanned underwater vehicles are being developed and offered to customers. In particular, the concept of a caterpillar all-terrain vehicle capable of moving along the bottom and carrying the necessary target equipment exists and is being worked out. The next variants of such equipment have recently been proposed by the American company Bayonet Ocean Vehicles. Based on common solutions and components, she developed a line of such devices.
Perspective development
The future family of Bayonet submersibles was originally developed by C-2 Innovations (Plymouth, Massachusetts). She deals with a variety of automated and robotic systems, incl. underwater. The accumulated experience and available technologies were used to create a new family of underwater platforms. Some components were provided by Greensea Systems Inc.
On June 1, 2022, it was announced that C-2 Innovations is transferring its underwater all-terrain vehicle business to Greensea Systems. To further develop this project, the latter created a separate company, Bayonet Ocean Vehicles. The family of such equipment now bears the same name - Bayonet ("Bayonet"). The presentation of the new company and its products took place last June at the Undersea Defense Technology exhibition in Rotterdam (Netherlands).
At the moment, the Bayonet family includes three underwater vehicles of similar architecture, unified in terms of main components. At the same time, Bayonet 150, Bayonet 250 and Bayonet 350 products have different sizes and weights, as well as different load capacities. So, the maximum payload mass in pounds is reflected in the name of the platforms.
The development company believes that its family of underwater all-terrain vehicles has great potential. Such platforms can be of interest to a wide range of customers and operators. With the help of this technique, equipped with the necessary tools and instruments, the customer will be able to perform a variety of works at the bottom. In this case, it is possible to use the device both near the coast and in the open sea at an acceptable depth.
Following the results of last year's exhibition, BOV noted a high interest from various organizations. However, the receipt of real orders has not yet been reported. Perhaps potential buyers are just studying offers from BOV and are not yet ready to purchase equipment.
Product Bayonet 150
Unified family
BOV currently offers three subsea platforms with different characteristics. Perhaps in the future the family will expand with new products with different parameters. All Bayonet products are remote controlled/autonomous tracked vehicles with space to accommodate payloads of various sizes and weights.
The devices of the family use a unified control system developed by Greensea Systems. It includes an on-board computer, remote control and communications equipment, inertial and satellite navigation systems, and a set of sensors. When working at depth, a detachable buoy with an antenna or a cable can be used for communication.
The control complex is able to explore the environment and collect various data. Processing incoming information, the complex builds a route, controls traffic and responds to external factors. At the same time, it is possible to work with remote control under the control of the operator.
Control devices have interfaces of several standards for connecting various scientific or other devices. The composition of the platform equipment is determined by the operator in accordance with its current tasks. Provides collection and storage of information before returning to the surface.
Bayonet products can work on their own or on different media. So, the all-terrain vehicle can independently descend into the water from the shore. It can also be lowered to the bottom from the side of a boat or ship. The lightest apparatus of the family is serviced by one operator, while the others are operated by two.
Three devices
The smallest representative of the family is the Bayonet 150. It is built on the basis of a platform hull and has large tracks that cover the side of the hull. A simplified undercarriage is used with large diameter drive and idler wheels, as well as a wide rubber track.
250 lb platform
The device has a length of less than 840 mm with a width of 508 mm and a height of 254 mm. Weight platform with battery, but without payload - 125 pounds (approx. 57 kg). As the name suggests, the Bayonet 150 can carry up to 150 pounds (68 kg) of cargo. It is placed on a platform measuring 610 x 152 mm.
Movement is provided by battery-powered electric motors. The travel speed does not exceed 1,5-1,8 km / h. The platform alone on a single charge can travel over 35 km on land; with a full load and under water - at least 10 km. Without using engines, the Bayonet 150 can stay at one point for hours and use the target load.
The Bayonet 250 platform is larger and heavier, and has a different design. Its length exceeds 1,2 m, width - 1,3 m, height - 355 mm. There are two options for the cargo area up to 1060 x 400 mm in size. The platform's own weight is 250 pounds (113 kg), and so is the payload.
The 250-pound platform features a more complex undercarriage with shallow road wheels. The drive is provided by electric motors with greater power. In terms of driving characteristics, the Bayonet 250 practically does not differ from the 150 model.
The Bayonet 350 ATV measures 1,5m x 1,8m x 0,3m and weighs 272kg. For transportation, the product is disassembled into separate units. Appropriately sized cargo bays accommodate devices weighing up to 159 kg (350 lbs).
The maximum speed of such a platform is 1,8 km/h. On it, the batteries allow you to go 38 km. With energy savings, the cruising range grows to 60-64 km. In addition, the range depends on the installed target equipment. Thus, the cable management module and the corresponding loads reduce the range to 15 km. The device is capable of diving to depths of up to 100 m.
At the new technical level
The concept of an underwater tracked platform capable of working at the bottom and carrying various devices is quite old. There are a number of such developments from different countries that were used to solve scientific, industrial and other problems. The Bayonet project from C-2, Greensea and BOV is actually another attempt to implement a well-known and proven concept.
Heavy all-terrain vehicle Bayonet 350
In general, the devices of the "Bayonet" series have a number of advantages characteristic of the entire class of underwater all-terrain vehicles. The self-propelled "ground" platform is capable of carrying a wide range of various equipment, with an increased mass in comparison with other carrier options. Tracked chassis provides sufficient mobility and maneuverability.
Underwater all-terrain vehicles can only move along the bottom, but in some situations such capabilities are needed. The use of more common autonomous submarines in this case may be impossible or impractical. In addition, the self-propelled platform with minimal energy consumption can stay in one place for a long time.
The Bayonet 150/250/350 products also have a number of advantages of their own, precisely due to the various features of the project. First of all, it is the novelty of all elements of the complex. The design uses modern components and assemblies; also used up-to-date software. All together, this allows you to get high performance, as well as ensure long-term operation in the future.
The declared performance characteristics are quite high. Platforms of three types are capable of carrying from 68 to 159 kg of payload in the form of various instruments, special tools, etc., connected to on-board power and control facilities. With the help of such devices, the device can conduct a variety of studies or perform work at depth. With all this, the platforms have low running characteristics, which in the light of their tasks is not a problem.
Underwater future
Currently, the theme of unmanned underwater vehicles with different characteristics and capabilities is quite popular among developers and potential customers. Various projects of this kind are created, and some even go as far as signing contracts, production and operation. Another novelty in this area last year was the underwater tracked platform of the Bayonet series.
The "Bayonet" project uses a number of already known and new ideas, due to which sufficiently high performance and wide working possibilities are achieved. The developer company is optimistic and expects that its equipment will be bought. In addition, the main solutions of the project are scalable, and it is likely that in the future the family will be replenished with new samples. Whether there will be a demand for them, time will tell.
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