BlueBoat Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) by Blue Robotics

Product Description

With its adaptable electronics, ample payload mounts, and open-source BlueOS software, it’s a seamless platform for sonar and sensor integration, designed to be endlessly expandable for your unique needs.

Payload Capacity and Options

The Blue Robotics BlueBoat 120 is designed to be equipped with a multitude of payload options, the only limitation is your imagination. All of the control systems, electronics, power supply via onboard batteries, and wiring are conveniently located in the twin hulls leaving ample room between the hulls for payload integration. The flat inner walls of the hulls are specifically designed to minimise wake, ensuring the USV is ideally suited to carrying sonar and other sensitive sensors and payloads.

The BlueBoat 120 has a payload carrying capacity of up to 15 kg (including batteries for power and payload). Payload mounting points are located on the bottom of each hull and on the cross members and brackets, enabling the mounting of any sensor package such as single beam echosounders, small multibeam echosounders or side scan sonars, water quality sondes, downward facing camera systems, navigational systems or laser scanners.

Both hulls feature dry space for additional electronics and other internal hardware integration with simple access to dedicated payload power rails, and easy inter-hull communications and wiring. Each hull also features holes for electrical penetrators or connectors.

What About Weed and Debris? – No Problem!

Worried about getting stuck on weeds or debris? We know such situations are often inconvenient and sometime expensive. Unlike other USV solutions on the market that rely on user intervention and a degree of luck. The BlueBoat has been designed with this issue in mind and is well suited to avoid these occurrences – allowing you to get on with your mission with peace of mind.

The BlueBoat’s incorporates a uniquely shaped deep hull which pushes weeds and debris down and away from the two M200 Motor driven propellers, featuring a highly swept weedless design to sweep away anything that isn’t pushed out of the way by the hulls.

The result is a survey platform that can undertake surveys in weed filled lakes and rivers, access shallow coastal environments and even cruise through plastic-polluted waters.

How Far? and How Long?

The Blue Robotics BlueBoat 120 has impressive endurance, when fully loaded with batteries it can delivery over 60 hours of continuous operating time. Even a single battery, can give enough power for up to 9 hours of operation and can cover over 30 km distance.

Communications with the BlueBoat

A long-range 2.4 GHz wifi radio connects the BaseStation box to the BlueBoat from up to 1 km away using the omni directional antennas that are included as standard. The BaseStation has an internal battery as well as a USB-C port for charging and a hardwired network connection.

More than one BlueBoat? Not a problem, multiple BlueBoats can be connected through a single BaseStation box. The BlueBoat will be compatible with other types of communication for longer range, such as 4G LTE and Iridium satellite communications – this is a future feature that will be compatible with the existing design, allowing for easy future upgrade.

Autonomous Operation

As standard, every BlueBoat 120 includes a Navigator Flight Controller, GNSS / GPS receiver, and the open source ArduRover control firmware enabling advanced autonomous navigation capabilities.

The BlueBoat can perform precise waypoint navigation, position hold at a given location, follow-me manoeuvres, safety geo-fencing to prevent access to restricted areas, automatic return-to-home if radio signal is lost or on other triggers.

Using open source software such as QGroundControl or Mission Planner, missions can be planned and uploaded to the BlueBoat via a simple graphic user interface making it quick and easy to design a complex mission.

What about manual control? Of course if you wish to pilot the USV manually you can use a joystick controller to control all features of the Blue Boat.

What Else Do I Need to Get Started?

The BlueBoat 120 is delivered nearly fully assembled with only a few minutes of user assembly required to get ready for their first mission.

In addition you will require the following:

• Laptop / Tablet– a medium to high-end model with Windows 10, Mac, or Linux operating system is required. Some compatible tablets including the Windows Surface tablets can also be used. At present iOS and Android are not officially supported.
• Battery – We recommend the 14.8v, 15.6Ah lithium-ion battery for the best battery life. Being UK based distributors and holding these in stock, we can ship these to you via specialist courier. These cannot be purchased direct from the USA.
• Battery Charger – We have a the Blue Robotics H6 PRO Lithium Battery Charger.
• Gamepad Controller (optional) – For manual control, we recommend a controller like the Xbox Wireless Controller.

Limited Stock – Register Your Interest in the BlueBoat