Cellula Robotics receives AUV fuel cell contract

11th April 2018 - 14:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

RSS

The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a contract to Cellula Robotics to develop a fuel cell that will improve the ability for AUVs to store sufficient energy for long range sub-surface missions in the Arctic region.

The research and development contract has been awarded under the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science and Technology (S&T) programme.

Improved fuel cells will enable longer endurance AUV ISR missions that support Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and provide a greater awareness of safety and security issues, and transportation and commercial activity in Canada’s Arctic.

Harjit S. Sajjan, Canadian Defence Minister, said: ‘In order to address Canadian challenges we need to explore innovative made-in-Canada solutions, especially given the extensive coastline in the Arctic. Our academic institutions and innovation industry are among the best in the world and we are proud to work with them to address particularly complex surveillance issues for the Arctic.’

The government of Canada is investing around $133 million through to 2020 in the ADSA S&T programme. The programme coordinates and funds innovative research and analysis to support the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic.