AsterX et IdefX
The submersibles Asterx and Idefx are autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) designed for the scientific reconnaissance of continental shelves to a depth of 2,850 metres. They perform dives without any physical connection to the surface vessel and do not require an operator.
These medium-sized vehicles can deploy scientific payloads on sections of up to 100 km in length.
They have at their disposal a catalogue of payloads, including multibeam echo sounders, sub-bottom profilers, current profilers, CTD, magnetometers and other “user” embarked equipment, which can be leveraged thanks to adaptable interfaces.
Uses
- Studying the seabed or water column for various scientific objectives.
- Searching for scientific targets, wrecks and other objects.
Their suitability for coastal vessels means they can be deployed quickly and at a reasonable cost.
In deep-sea contexts, they can be used to improve the efficiency of “heavy” submersibles (Victor 6000, Nautile) by generating high-resolution charts and data relating to diving targets.
In the period 2005–2018:
- 530 dives
- Travelled more than 14,000 kilometres
- 72 campaigns