Boeing’s recent addition, Echo Voyager, an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV), is to use a hybrid rechargeable power system supported by a lithium-ion energy storage solution (ESS) from Corvus Energy to enable it to operate autonomously at sea for months at a time.
The most recent and largest addition to the family of UUVs, Echo Voyager will join Echo Seeker and Echo Ranger. However, unlike its sister UUVs, which can only stay at sea for a few days before requiring recharging, Echo Voyager will be able to sail for 6 months at a time without returning to a support ship.
Enabling this is Corvus’ ESS that will power Echo Voyager for a few days before using an onboard diesel generator to recharge the batteries. Eliminating the need for a support ship, Eco Voyager will operate more efficiently and economically, collecting data while at sea and providing information in a near real-time environment. Compared with existing UUVs that require a surface ship and crew for day-to-day operations, Echo Voyager will eradicate this requirement and associated costs.
Sea trials will be carried out on Echo Voyager this summer across the Californian coast with its future role expected to include scientific, military or oil and gas exploration.
Ship Efficiency Review News
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