Effective maritime search with AUV

The autonomous underwater vehicle Sapphires is primarily used for mine hunting and tactical mapping. It is also proven to be an effective assistance in locating the victims of maritime accidents.

Image: AUV 62 Sapphires is the next generation of underwater vehicle. One of its main purposes is to find small objects in large areas as quickly as possible. The system can be operated from submarines, surface ships or even from shore. Photo: Magnus Andersson.

11/17/2008 | AUV 62 Sapphires is an autonomous underwater vehicle that is normally used for finding mines and ammunition. It is equipped with a very advanced sea-bed imaging sensor, a so called synthetic sonar aperture.

Sapphires has now even been used to search for the victims of maritime accidents. For example, where divers and dogs draw blanks the AUV 62 Sapphire is an effective aid. Once in the water, it can rapidly cover a large area. When it has surfaced, the high-resolution images show what is down on the sea-bed and exactly where to find it.

"It is satisfying that we can put this military technology into civilian uses," said Magnus Andersson at Saab Underwater Systems, who was present last Friday when the body of a missing man was recovered after a maritime accident.

AUV 62 Sapphires has been developed by Saab in close cooperation with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV), the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Navy.