Commercial success for latest ECA AUV

France’s Toulon-based ECA Group, which specialises in robotics, automation and simulation systems, reports the first sale of its latest A18 AUV for “several million euros”. It will be delivered to the un-named customer next year.

The system is reportedly able to operate underwater for more than 24 hours at depths down to 3,000m. Equipped with specialist miniaturised sensors and software, it has been specifically designed for hydrographic surveys, oceanographic research, exploitation of seabed resources, and search and rescue operations. It can be operated via different launch and retrieval systems available from ECA. Quoted prices of available systems weighing between 50 and 120kg range from €1.5m to €5m.