The two projects, Greyshark and Quadroin, were inspired by the natural aerodynamic ability of penguins, which the founder of Evo Logics discovered when studying. He decided to recreate the shapes of these penguins to create capable, multi-tasking AUVs.
Evo Logics specializes in underwater robotics and underwater sensors and manufactured the first Quadroin AUV for commercial applications such as seabed mapping, and hydrographic and oceanographic data collection. Following seven years of development, they decided to bring it up on the military market seeing its dual capabilities.
The Quadroin AUV is trusted by four horizontal thrusters in X-shaped and is capable of going up to 5 meters per second at a maximum depth of 150m. Apt to stay for 10 hours underwater with a cruise speed of 2m/second, it can feature different types of sensors with a payload weight limit of up to 3 kg to conduct oceanographic, hydrographic, and mine warfare operations. The customer has the choice regarding power. The Quadroin can be powered by lithium-ion or hydrogen fuel cells. The tests for the latter are currently being carried out.
Capable of operating in a swarm to cover a large area, the Quadroin is fitted with a camera coupled with AI for mine detection and Norbit sonar. Once a mine is detected, the AUV shares automatically the GPS position via acoustic communication or it comes up to the surface. If a closer watch is needed, a manual control is needed.
The Quadroin was already sold to a NATO country in 2023 and participated in NATO’s experimental unmanned systems exercise – REPMUS 2024 which took place in Portugal. Evo Logics announced some demonstrations to the German Navy were also made and talks are ongoing.
To go a step further and to keep innovating and build a program within the military market, they collaborate with EuroAtlas who takes charge of the hardware and the distribution for military users for a bigger AUV: the Greyshark. Evo Logics focuses on acoustics, sensors, and software.
Started 1.5 years ago and still in the development phase, the project is based on feedback from the Deutsche Marine which is unable to monitor and protect some areas due to the seabed environment.
“In narrow sea like the Baltic Sea is, maneuverability for submarines is limited, therefore very capable AUV is needed. With AUV we can also make a presence that submarines and ships can’t make due to their limited availibility.” EuroAtlas representative
The main objective of the Greyshark, as announced by its manufacturer, is to create an extended-range, multi-mission AUV designed for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and the protection of critical underwater infrastructures at depths of up to 650 meters. Powered by fuel cells, the subsea vehicle boasts a theoretical range of 1,100 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots. To achieve such impressive distances, the Greyshark is significantly larger than the Quadroin, measuring 6.5 meters in length, 1.5 meters in width, and weighing approximately 3.5 tons.
To conduct as many missions as the ones mentioned, different types of payloads will be fitted aboard, thus making no need to reconfigure it if the mission switches from MCM to ASW for example according to a EuroAtlas representative. Cameras fitted with AI for detection and classification of any objects, lights, electromagnetic pulse meters, LIDAR, synthetic aperture, 3D multibeam sonar for seabed imaging, etc. will equip the AUV.
The Greyshark will also get a seabed laying capability or passive hold position allowing the passive or active listening of other assets in the area. The manufacturer would also work on a target following capability to get positioning and intelligence about it.
“The Greyshark is for underwater surveillance and for monitoring of critical infrastructure. So, if you have pipelines and cables, you can log on and follow. The first time you make a slow scan and check every detail. And after this, you can go ten knots over it and it will detect the differences if they are any. If it detects something, it will report the anomaly.” EuroAtlas representative.
In addition to the applications already mentioned, Greyshark was also thought to act as a decoy and bait for adverse submarines. Indeed, with its active sonar, it could illuminate and thus attract or deter any potential adversary’s submarine.
To get enhanced supervision of the area, the Greyshark project does not forget the possibility of operating in swarms to extend the ranges of detection and mapping. The AUV would use AI and encrypted acoustic communication to get a full collaboration between the devices within the swarm.
Regarding mission programming, the latter is done ahead of deployment but can be changed at any moment. Indeed, the communication used to operate the Greyshark is via acoustic or satellites (iridium for example). If the mission planning is changed while the mission is ongoing, acoustic comms can be sent to change and reroute for a new target or objective. Otherwise, the user must wait for the AUV to come back to the surface in order to communicate with it “just like submarines would do” and to deploy its communication mast. To collect the data, the AUV uses also its mast to send information to the control center or they can be retrieved when the Greyshark is recovered by a platform or directly ashore.
For positioning and navigation, the Greyshark is announced to be fitted with an INS, USBL, GNSS to get a proper location of the AUV, to assist its navigation, and also with a DVL for collision avoidance with the seabed. Front collision should be avoided thanks to the 3D vertical multibeam sonar placed in the nose of the device.
The Greyshark first prototype is announced to take its first dive in January 2025 and to perform the first software and sensors tests in mid-2025. EuroAtlas thinks already of some variant that would be able to go down up to 4,000m-deep.
