The HUGIN AUV Programme
Autonomous underwater vehicles for both civilian and military use.
FFI has developed autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for more than 15 years. The
HUGIN system has been developed in a collaborative effort involving FFI,
Kongsberg Maritime, Statoil and the Royal Norwegian Navy.
Until now, 25 HUGIN AUVs have been sold to military and civilian customers in Europe, Asia and America.
Commercial use
Six commercial survey vehicles are currently in operational use around the world by the
companies C&C Technologies, Fugro and Geoconsult AS. From the first commercial
survey in 1997, the HUGIN survey vehicles have covered a distance exceeding 120 000 km
of billed survey work - more than three times around Earth at equator. The HUGIN
survey vehicles have demonstrated endurance in excess of 72 hours. They have depth ratings of 3000-4500 m.
Military use
Following years of technology development and successful concept demonstrations in
2001, FFI and Kongsberg Maritime started development of the HUGIN MRS system. This is
a military version of HUGIN, equipped with advanced sensors for mine countermeasures
(MCM) and rapid environmental assessment (REA) applications. In January 2004, a pilot HUGIN
1000 AUV was delivered to the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) as a stop-gap measure.
The first full-capability HUGIN 1000-MR vehicle is due for delivery to the RNoN in
2007. The Finnish Navy has also ordered three HUGIN 1000-MR vehicles for their new MCM vessels.
Other military uses of the HUGIN 1000 system include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
Surveying and research
The HUGIN 1000 vehicle is about half the size of the HUGIN 3000 survey AUV. In addition to the military uses,
it is also well suited for a variety of civilian applications.
In April 2007, the National Hydrographic Office of India placed an order for HUGIN 1000 AUVs for their new
hydrographic vessels. A HUGIN 1000 AUV with 3000 m depth rating has furthermore been ordered by FFI,
primarily for hydrographic surveying and oceanographic research.
External links:
| 
