Ensuring reliable navigation for divers during tactical missions
- User stories
Synopsis
Challenge
Divers performing tactical missions, such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and combat swimmer operations, must rely on systems that deliver accurate, dependable performance in high-stakes environments. Designing navigation systems for specialist divers is challenging: operational requirements are constantly shifting, driven by real-world feedback and emerging mission profiles.
Solution
Blueprint Subsea offers divers the Artemis range of navigation systems and integrated diver propulsion system, equipped with Nortek’s DVL technology. These compact, mission-ready systems are tailored to operator needs, delivering precision and adaptability where it matters most.
Benefit
Artemis systems deliver precise navigation and situational awareness to divers in a handheld package. The integrated DVL offers reliable velocity information with no drift, enabling precise dead-reckoning navigation. This capability supports faster and more informed decision-making and enables divers to safely and efficiently execute complex underwater tasks in high-stakes missions.
Precision navigation: crucial for safe missions
Diver navigation has long presented a challenge. Ensuring diver safety is crucial, and the consequences of not having reliable navigation and position information, especially when GPS is no longer available beneath the surface, are far greater for missions using divers than ROVs or other uncrewed systems. UK-based Blueprint Subsea’s Artemis diver navigation systems are engineered to give operators confidence and control in such situations. Accurate positioning and dead-reckoning navigation capabilities are essential for maintaining situational awareness and keeping divers safe during long-duration underwater missions. Blueprint relies on Nortek’s DVL technology as part of these diver navigation systems to provide accurate velocity information in challenging underwater environments.
The Artemis systems are deployed primarily by two specialist groups in the defense space: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) divers and combat swimmers. EOD divers must locate, identify, and investigate underwater ordnance and mines. For these divers, precise navigation and positional awareness are critical to safety and mission success. Combat swimmers rely on Artemis to execute covert insertion and extraction missions, navigating accurately to designated targets and returning undetected.
Designed for the operator
The DVL is the key sensor making accurate navigation possible. While the primary purpose of the Artemis range of diver navigation systems is navigation and positioning, these systems are also equipped with a suite of other advanced sensors and technology, including multibeam imaging sonar, high-resolution cameras, and detachable floating GNSS receiver buoys.
A cornerstone of Blueprint’s philosophy is its operator-led approach. “We prioritize the insights and experiences of operators, tailoring features and interfaces to align with real-world mission execution,” says Rachael Reader, Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Blueprint Subsea “Recognizing also that training time is often limited in critical scenarios, our systems are designed to be intuitive and plug-and-play. Our goal is to minimize setup time and allow users to focus fully on the mission.”
Supporting the Artemis diver navigation platform
As part of the Artemis navigation system, the DVL measures velocity relative to the seabed. When integrated into the navigation system, this makes dead-reckoning navigation possible, providing navigation information for divers even in the absence of satellite signals
As James Colebourn, Technical Sales Engineer at Blueprint Subsea, explains, “Once GPS drops out, the unit seamlessly switches to the DVL, just as any remotely operated vehicle (ROV) would, enabling accurate underwater navigation until the diver resurfaces.”
Blueprint offers a variety of Artemis systems, each equipped with sensors and a DVL according to mission needs. The ArtemisPRO, their most advanced navigation system designed for military and Special Forces divers, uses Nortek’s DVL 1000. The ArtemisSX, which can be used as a diver handheld or paired with a diver propulsion vehicle, uses the DVL 500 Compact. Finally, the ArtemisELITE, which pairs the navigation system with SUEX diver propulsion units and requires the longest range, uses the DVL 500.
The relationship between Blueprint and Nortek began when Blueprint sought to evolve a smaller GPS-float device into a more capable diver system. “We explored many different options and Nortek’s DVLs offered the best performance and quality,” says Colebourn.
Today, Blueprint uses OEM versions of Nortek’s DVLs, allowing Blueprint to streamline integration with the system without sacrificing precision.
“Initially we chose Nortek for quality, but as the partnership matured, Nortek supported the customization we needed,” adds Colebourn.
Close collaboration with Nortek engineers at the Nortek’s headquarters in Norway, as well as local technical support from Nortek’s team in the United Kingdom helped Blueprint refine its designs through continuous feedback and testing.
Humans, robots, and the future of diving
The underwater domain is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and underwater vehicles can perform an increasing number of jobs historically performed by divers. Yet, despite these advancements, the team at Blueprint firmly believes that divers will remain indispensable.
“Robots can do many things, but some missions still require people in the water,” Colebourn notes. “There will always be tasks that demand human judgment, adaptability, and touch.”
To ensure safety and capability of these divers, technology like Blueprint’s DVL-aided diver navigation system will be crucial. Using robotic systems in conjunction with divers will reduce risk and improve efficiency, without sacrificing the human experience and skill that comes with specialized divers.
Blueprint and Nortek aim to continue their collaboration to meet the needs of divers and operators to execute challenging and sensitive missions. Reliable underwater navigation from systems like the Artemis is non-negotiable for these users, and is only made possible by advanced navigation sensors like Nortek DVLs.
