A Strategic Robotic Systems’ hybrid underwater vehicle called Fusion can handle mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, and unexploded explosive ordnance missions.

Jesse Rodocker, president of Strategic Robotic Systems, says Fusion combines ROV (remotely operated vehicle), AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle), and DIVER techniques that divers use, including observing natural features, a compass, and surface observations to navigate underwater, into a single hybrid unit.

"Fusion can be sent out in AUV mode on a mission to use side scan sonar to detect an object," Rodocker says. "It follows the path you programmed, returns, and downloads data so you can look at a map it created to determine interesting targets marked with their waypoints. You are able to send Fusion back out to verify what those targets are and if they are past traditional dive depths, can plug in a cable and control Fusion from the surface and get the data uploaded."

Rodocker notes Fusion can have a payload added to it on the return trip where it drops the payload to neutralize a mine it might have found.

Fusion also can be used to transport divers to a target.

"You can plug in a screen on top of Fusion between two handles the diver holds and navigates back to a target using four thrusters for propulsion," Rodocker says. "Two thrusters are for horizontal control and two for forward and reverse."

Fusion is 2.5 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 10 inches tall. The unit is man-portable and designed to be operated out of combat-ready rubberized craft that are 5.8 meters long, Rodocker says. "Fusion uses lithium-ion batteries and, depending on the conditions, can run at least a four-hour mission under normal conditions. Its maximum depth is 300 meters but 2,000 meters with a cable that is a communications link."

"We started delivering systems in September of this year, and they are being used by the U.S. Navy, as well as Japan, Australia, the U.K., and Portugal," Rodocker adds. Finding mines is one of Fusion's chief missions, and Rodocker notes mines usually are found at less than 300 meters depth.

Fusion has a video camera to provide users a view of what it sees, as well as a gripper arm that can be plugged into the unit to recover items and bring them to the surface.