Subnero Acoustic Modems Supported in OceanScan MST's LAUV
Subnero, a Singapore developer of underwater communication and networking technologies, announced that its smart acoustic modems are now natively supported in the Light Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (LAUV) from OceanScan MST. The integration was carried out independently by the Acoustic Research Laboratory (ARL) at the National University of Singapore. It required no modification to the modem, the vehicle, or the software on either side.
The LAUV runs on the Dune software ecosystem, which had no existing integration with Subnero modems. ARL built a small open-source software bridge that runs directly on the modems, linking Subnero's UnetStack network stack to Dune's standard modem interface. On the vehicle side, the integration needed only a few lines of configuration. OceanScan MST handled the mechanical and electrical fit, and the full integration and validation took less than a week.
ARL has since operated the vehicle and its acoustic link for more than a year in Singapore's waters. These are among the most demanding environments in the world for underwater acoustic communication, with intense snapping-shrimp noise, strong currents and constant bubble clouds from passing ships. Throughout that period, the link has delivered reliable command and control and acoustic ranging..