Bluefin Receives Battery Approval for HAUV

A subsea battery is swapped out on a Bluefin-9 AUV. Photo courtesy Bluefin Robotics.

By Danielle Lucey



Bluefin Robotics has received Navy approval for its 1.5-kilowatt-hour subsea battery for use on its HAUV platform, which will also be allowed to be transported on a naval aircraft.



"We are very pleased with the results of the testing," says Dr. Richard Wilson, director of Power Systems at Bluefin Robotics. "The approval adds to our safety reputation for subsea battery technology and highlights the quality and effort we put into all our battery systems, both for our military and commercial clients."



Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division started a series of lithium battery tests for performance and safety in October with positive results. The HAUV-3 version of the vehicle completed its own round of acceptance tests by the Navy in August 2012. 



Bluefin has been designing, manufacturing and fielding subsea batteries for more than a decade.