13 September 2013 - Hydroid, Inc., a manufacturer of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), in partnership with its parent company, KONGSBERG Maritime, today announced the release of the new MUNIN AUV. Designed jointly by the two companies, the MUNIN combines the size and deployability of the Hydroid REMUS 600 AUV with the navigation systems and user interface of the KONGSBERG HUGIN AUV to give offshore users a capable and reliable solution for their survey and exploration needs.
"The MUNIN was designed to complement the capabilities of the REMUS and HUGIN," said Christopher Von Alt, President and co-founder of Hydroid. "The MUNIN addresses a critical market need by providing offshore users with an easily deployable and highly reliable submersible. It delivers high quality sonar data at depths up to 1,500 meters with its custom, state-of-the-art version of the EM2040 multibeam. Additionally, the MUNIN includes several other innovative features which together, position it as a leader in its category."
The MUNIN includes a swappable battery, which increases productivity by enabling almost continual operations. Additionally, the MUNIN, with its unmatched navigation performance, is able to autonomously follow and inspect underwater pipelines and can be deployed from vessels as small as 35 feet. By using the same top-side user interface as the HUGIN, the MUNIN eliminates the need for additional operator training for users of both AUVs, making the MUNIN perfectly suited to complement the deep water operations of the HUGIN.
"With the MUNIN, we didn't just combine the capabilities of the REMUS and HUGIN," said Geir Espen Schmidt of KONGSBERG, "we designed an AUV that complements the strengths of both vehicles and enhances the survey and exploration capabilities of the user. We're proud to introduce the MUNIN as the next step in The Kongsberg Maritime AUV line."