The French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (Shom) has acquired the DriX H-8 surface hydrographic drone developed by Exail.
The system is designed to support marine data collection for both civilian and military purposes and is capable of reaching deep-sea regions.
The DriX H-8 can perform various missions, including seabed topography, wreck detection, seabed composition analysis, and preliminary studies for offshore wind farm development.
General Manager of Shom, Laurent Kerléguer, said that the DriX H-8 “will mark a major step in the transformation of our hydrographic data acquisition resources.”
Features
The DriX H-8 is a medium-range uncrewed surface vessel (USV) measuring 25.3 feet (7.7 meters) in length and weighing approximately 3,527 pounds (1,600 kilograms).
The USV can achieve speeds of up to 14 knots (16 miles/25.7 kilometers per hour) and has an operational endurance of up to 10 days.
It is specifically designed to conduct highly accurate hydrographic surveys, minimizing disturbances and optimizing data collection under challenging conditions.
Before its acquisition, Shom tested the USV extensively, including aboard the hydro-oceanographic vessel Beautemps-Beaupré off the French coast near Brest, in the country’s North-West region.
Command and Communication Capabilities
The DriX USV is equipped for both remote-controlled operations and supervised autonomous missions.
In autonomous mode, the vessel operates under pilot supervision via a graphical interface that enables real-time monitoring.
Additionally, the USV is supported by a multi-channel communication system for line-of-sight and over-the-horizon operations.
The communication system incorporates various platforms, including Kongsberg broadband radio, Silvus network radio, and Starlink satellite technology.