ZeroUSV has successfully deployed a Slocum glider from an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for the first time, marking a significant step forward during a demonstration tied to the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion programme.
Based at Turnchapel Wharf, the achievement by ZeroUSV highlights the potential for autonomous USVs to function as both deployment and support platforms for long-duration underwater systems. By doing so, they can reduce reliance on larger, crewed ships in subsea missions.
The operation involved launching a Teledyne Slocum Glider from a ZeroUSV Oceanus12 vessel, which served as the autonomous carrier for subsea technology supplied by Teledyne Marine.
The trial reinforced the idea that autonomous surface platforms can independently deploy and sustain long-endurance underwater vehicles, removing the necessity for traditional crewed support ships.
Atlantic Bastion is part of a broader UK Ministry of Defence initiative aimed at assessing how autonomous technologies can enhance maritime security operations. These include subsea surveillance and safeguarding vital underwater infrastructure. The programme is expected to expand with contributions from multiple industry partners as capabilities continue to evolve.
As part of the demonstration, two Oceanus12 USVs were used within a larger set of trial activities. The exercise brought together a range of collaborators to examine how autonomous vessels, underwater vehicles, and specialised sensing technologies can work together in maritime and subsea operations.
“This is an incredible milestone. For the first time, the world has seen the launching and operating of an ocean glider from an uncrewed vessel, which opens up new possibilities for persistent subsea monitoring and long-endurance operations at sea."
“This ushers in a new operational model for persistent, distributed ocean data collection, directly relevant to defence ISR, ASW and REA missions, as well as commercial and scientific oceanographic applications.”
- Matthew Ratsey, Managing Director and Co-Founder of ZeroUSV.
Teledyne Marine x Zero USV – Advancing Autonomous Surveying
The demonstration also underscores growing collaboration within the autonomous maritime industry. Teledyne Marine and MSubs have recently formed a strategic partnership aimed at combining autonomous surface vessels, subsea systems, and advanced sensing technologies for future naval use. The Oceanus platform plays a key role as a versatile base for deploying such capabilities from unmanned vessels.
"The ability for our Slocum gliders to be rapidly and safely deployed into an operating area from another unmanned platforms is a major capability enhancement and opens the door for more effective and focused use of gliders and USVs especially for time sensitive defence applications like ASW, ISR or REA."
- Arnar Steingrimsson, Vice President of Sales, Marine Vehicles at Teledyne Marine
The Oceanus range
The Oceanus range is built as a modular autonomous vessel system designed to carry a variety of payloads, including sonar, survey tools, and autonomous underwater vehicles. In addition, development is underway on a larger model, Oceanus17, which will provide greater payload capacity and extended endurance for longer deployments.
