Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2023 - 12

FEATURE ARTICLE
Cellula Tests Underwater Drone to Monitor Magnetic Signatures
Columbia. " In conjunction with the invaluable feedback received
to date, the opportunity of working closely with DND throughout
the program enabled us to understand the challenges for signature
measurement and management. "
" Since the Imotus-S project ann====ouncement, we've been
looking forward to open water testing and deploying Imotus-S off
an Orca class vessel " said Warren Priyadamkol, project engineer
at DND. " With the successful completion of the sea trials, we will
now focus on analyzing the data sets obtained from the AUV. "
In-depth analysis of the recorded data, including comparison to
known acoustic and magnetic signatures of the Orca vessel is ongoing
from the test department. Discussions and feedback from
the trials will move the Imotus-S program one step closer to the
establishment of an autonomous underwater ranging capability.
Cellula underwater drone being deployed off an RCN Orca class vessel
in Saanich Inlet
Measuring the magnetic signature of a ship can be cumbersome
and time-consuming, yet critical for protection of naval vessels
from underwater explosives. Now a Canadian robotics company,
with the help of a neighboring marine geophysical firm's specialized
magnetometer, has developed an underwater drone designed
to ease the task. It recently completed sea trials off the coast of
British Columbia in concert with the Royal Canadian Navy.
The tests were conducted in late 2022, reports Cellula Robotics,
developer of the Imotus-S underwater autonomous vehicle
which enables deployed vessels to easily monitor their magnetic
and acoustic signature in a timely manner without having to leave
station. The sea trials, executed in the Saanich Inlet over the
course of two weeks in November, served to meet various project
milestones including acoustic ranging, magnetic ranging, and understanding
safe distance to the vessel while maintaining control
authority. The demonstration provided training of test department
staff with handling and operating the Imotus-S drone and was run
with the support of a Royal Canadian Navy Orca class vessel,
PCT Cougar, as part of Cellula's ongoing work with the Department
of National Defence.
" Seeing Imotus-S being
deployed from and
working in tandem with
the Orca vessel has
been a fantastic step
in Cellula's signature
measurement program "
said Jacqueline
Nichols, business development
manager for
Cellula, which is located
in Burnaby, British
12 Magnetics Business & Technology * March/April 2023
Imotus-S is an open water hovering AUV for multi-influence marine vessel
signature measurement. Operating as a fleet, the Imotus-S AUVs provide
real, simultaneous measurements for acoustic and magnetic signatures
without leaving station.
Cellula's Signature Measurement System consists of a team of three or
more Imotus-S subsea drones that can rapidly create an acoustic & magnetic
check range at any location without requiring cables, diver deployment
or maneuvering into shallow waters.
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Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2023

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