Russia Unveils a One-of-a-Kind Diver-Support Drone
A new Russian-made surface drone designed to support divers brings together navigation, acoustic tracking, and autonomous following, offering features not found in any current commercial system
Industry and Import Substitution
Engineers at the Saint Petersburg State Marine Technical University (SPbGMTU) have tested a next‑generation autonomous surface drone designed specifically to support divers. The system automatically tracks a diver’s position, maintains communication, and keeps a stable distance—critical capabilities for underwater work where visibility and situational awareness are limited.
A First-of-Its-Kind Navigation Platform
The self-propelled platform serves as a persistent visual and navigation reference point, ensuring divers never lose contact with the surface team. No existing market solution integrates acoustic positioning, radio communication, autonomous following, and real-time tracking into a single device.
Technical Architecture and Harsh‑Environment Capability
The drone is a compact surface robot equipped with dual thrusters, a navigation electronics module, radio antennas, a hydroacoustic system, onboard controllers, sensor arrays, lighting systems for surface and underwater illumination, and a durable battery pack.
It can operate autonomously at night, in low visibility, in harsh weather, and even in icy slush conditions.
Beyond diver support, the drone can accompany autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), relaying their coordinates over far greater distances than standard acoustic systems allow.
