Seafloor HydroCat-550

The Seafloor HydroCat‑550™ is a large, autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) of catamaran design, specifically developed for high-precision hydrographic surveys in coastal and open waters. With a length of around 5.5 m and a very high payload capacity, the HydroCat‑550 is suitable for projects requiring extensive sensor equipment and stable performance. 

The platform is designed for both autonomous and remotely operated missions and can precisely follow pre-planned routes. Thanks to its robust aluminium catamaran hull, independently moving pontoons and a gimbaled payload deck, data acquisition remains reliable even in rough conditions up to sea state 5. The HydroCat-550 is typically transported by trailer.

The HydroCat-550 is designed for use with high-quality multibeam, single-beam, side-scan, ADCP, SVP and other sensor systems and, depending on the configuration, can operate for several hours up to over half a day. Typical applications include nearshore bathymetry, surveying of large rivers and ports, nearshore survey projects, dredging monitoring, and hydraulic engineering and scientific measurement campaigns. The Seafloor HydroCat‑550 thus represents a high‑end USV platform for demanding, professional hydrographic tasks.

Applications

Inspection/surveying of lakes, water quality research in harbours, large rivers, rough nearshore waters and tidal zones.