ASV has completed the construction of four C-Worker 5 vehicles. These autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) will be added to ASV’s global lease pool in the second quarter of 2016. While the C-Worker 5 can accommodate a variety of client payloads and applications, it was specifically designed as a hydrographic survey force multiplier.
The C-Worker 5 is five meters in length and can operate at 7 knots for 5 days before refueling. This speed/range combination maximizes acquisition effectiveness while minimizing launch and recovery operations. As a force multiplier, it can operate concurrently alongside traditional survey vessels, dramatically increasing survey efficiency.
The C-Worker 5 uses a direct drive marine diesel propulsion system operated via ASV’s ASView control system. The C-Worker 5 integrates quickly and easily with a wide variety of payloads including hull mounted and towed sensors. The ASView control system enables line plans from a variety of data acquisition systems to be uploaded for efficient data collection.
ASV Chairman Thomas Chance called the C-Worker 5 “an exciting new ASV that will dramatically help our clients’ bottom line.” He added, “The new vehicle also complements ASV’s C-Worker 6 and C-Worker 7 product line which can accommodate larger payloads.”
The C-Worker 5 was unveiled publicly for the first time at Oceanology International, in London, March 15-17.