UAV Navigation has announced that it has developed an autopilot for USVs and ASVs.

Designed to comply with IP66—which means that it can work in humid conditions, including salt spray and saline environments—UAV Navigation’s autopilot is capable of completely autonomously controlling a USV mission from beginning to end.

According to UAV Navigation, all of the advanced features available for UAS can be used by USV operators, including multiple waypoints, multiple onboard mission plans, and no-go zones.

One of the most useful features of the autopilot, according to UAV Navigation, is ‘relative routes,’ which is the ability to install the Ground Control Station (GCS) on a moving ship, and then to fix a mission plan relative to the moving vessel.

Although small in size and weight, UAV Navigation's product is a complete autopilot, which means that the unit has all of the necessary sensors needed to control the USV, as only servos and an external datalink to communicate with the GCS are needed. The GCS can also be readily integrated with range telemetry facilities so that range personnel can be kept aware of the USV's and GCS' locations at all times.

UAV Navigation notes that the autopilot is fully autonomous, which means that it can execute a complete mission even if the datalink between the Ground Control Station and the USV fails.