Advanced Navigation has launched a cutting-edge manufacturing and research facility in Balcatta, Western Australia (WA), aimed at enhancing the production of its underwater technologies, especially the autonomous underwater vehicle, Hydrus.
“The urgency to explore and utilize the world’s oceans has never been greater,as we strive to make data and insights more accessible to communities,research organizations,and governments worldwide. Western australia has long been a pivotal area for ocean exploration,” stated Xavier Orr, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation. “This new subsea facility will enable us to meet the increasing demand for high-quality underwater data,allowing us to bring both new and existing solutions to market more swiftly and effectively.We aim to triple our subsea team, and we believe this investment will substantially enhance our understanding of oceanic environments.”
Spanning 5.5 acres,the subsea center is designed for both advancement and high-volume manufacturing,and also ongoing research and expansion in subsea navigation and robotics. This includes the enhancement of its underwater artificial intelligence sector.
Renowned for its commitment to self-reliant design and vertical integration, Advanced Navigation has pioneered numerous innovations, such as the miniaturization of pressure-resistant electronics, advanced sonar systems, and AI-driven autonomous technologies. The new facility also features comprehensive testing environments, including various marine simulation setups, to guarantee optimal performance and superior production quality.
This subsea center is part of a broader strategy by Advanced Navigation to expand its global footprint and capabilities. The company has its headquarters in Sydney and operates research centers across Australia, including Brisbane for drone technology, Canberra for photonics and laser applications, and Newcastle for quantum sensing initiatives.
The Hydrus,Advanced Navigation’s autonomous underwater robot,is transforming undersea research,surveys,and exploration by simplifying data collection and making it more accessible. The design of Hydrus integrates state-of-the-art navigation, sonar, propulsion, and data acquisition technologies, combined with advanced artificial neural network intelligence.
With backing from esteemed research institutions such as the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, and the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation, Advanced Navigation is dedicated to developing sustainable technologies that promote the growth of the blue economy on both national and international levels.
“It’s thrilling to witness Advanced Navigation expand its engineering team in Western Australia,” remarked Justin Geldard, Coastal and Ocean Researcher at the University of western Australia Ocean Institute. “At UWA, we are investigating how both natural and artificial reef structures can safeguard coastlines by absorbing wave energy – Hydrus plays a crucial role in mapping and surveying these underwater formations. This technology optimizes our funding and significantly enhances our capacity to gather high-resolution data.”
