Kongsberg’s new underwater drone completes longest autonomous dive

Kongsberg Discovery, a division of Norwegian defense contractor KONGSBERG, has achieved a significant milestone with the HUGIN Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).

As noted by the company, the 8-ton, 40-foot AUV successfully completed a multi-week, fully autonomous mission, showcasing its ability to operate without human intervention or external navigation aids.

The mission, which spanned depths between 50 and 3,400 meters, tested the HUGIN Endurance’s capabilities under real-world conditions. After receiving its final navigation update 10 hours into the dive from a pre-deployed transponder, the vehicle continued its journey autonomously, covering a total distance of 1,200 nautical miles. Most impressively, the AUV returned with a position error of just 0.02% of the total distance traveled, validating its precise navigation and operational endurance.

HUGIN Endurance is the latest in the HUGIN family of AUVs, known for their deep-water operational capabilities. At 39 feet long and 47 inches in diameter, the AUV can operate for up to 15 days, enabling it to conduct shore-to-shore missions across a 1,200 nautical mile range without the need for human oversight. It builds on Kongsberg’s 30-year history of delivering reliable unmanned underwater systems to both commercial and government sectors, with approximately 100 HUGIN systems deployed worldwide.

This latest achievement places HUGIN Endurance at the forefront of autonomous underwater technology, solidifying Kongsberg Discovery’s reputation as a leader in unmanned deep-water exploration and defense applications.