Kraken Robotics Receives ThunderFish Alpha Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Kraken Robotics has taken delivery of its ThunderFish Alpha Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Developed by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute, the AUV will serve as a technology demonstrator for Kraken's underwater sensor and robotics programs.
Kraken Robotics' wholly-owned subsidiary, Kraken Sonar Systems Inc., has formally taken delivery of the ThunderFish Alpha Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The AUV, developed by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute, will be utilized as a technology demonstrator to support Kraken's ongoing development of its underwater sensor and robotics programs.
The ThunderFish Alpha AUV is designed for deep-sea applications and is rated for depths of up to 6,000 meters. It comes equipped with advanced sensor systems, including Kraken's AquaPix® MINSAS sonar, obstacle avoidance sonars, and navigation sensors. The vehicle also incorporates pressure-tolerant battery technology from Kraken Power GmbH and Kraken's DataPod data storage modules.
Kraken plans to upgrade the ThunderFish Alpha with larger sensors, including its MINSAS 120 sonar and SeaVision™ 3D Underwater Laser Imaging System. The vehicle's size will be increased to accommodate a larger payload capacity, and tunnel thrusters will be added to provide hovering capability and precision maneuvering.
Kraken President and CEO Karl Kenny stated that the delivery of ThunderFish Alpha marks a significant milestone in the company's evolution into a vertically integrated underwater robotics company. He also highlighted the industry trend shifting from product sales to service offerings, termed Robotics as a Service (RaaS), which he believes benefits both customers through cost reductions and faster response, and service providers via recurring revenue and accelerated innovation.