Submaran Dives for Diverse Swim Capability
Ocean Aero (Booth #1475) is debuting an unmanned solar- and wind-powered watercraft that can get out of harm’s way — by diving underwater.
The Submaran S10, which went on sale this spring, is intended primarily for surface operations, but, should people or craft pose a threat, it can fold up its sails and submerge to a depth of 10 meters, “to get out of the weather or out of way,” says Ken Childress, Ocean Aero’s vice president. “It’s unique in its class.”
The S10 spent three and a half years in development and is the first vessel from the San-Diego based company. At 14 one-fifth feet long, it weighs just under 300 pounds loaded and can carry a 50-pound payload. The design is also scalable to accommodate much larger sizes and various applications.
Ocean Aero is responding to requests from organizations in research, military, oil and gas, fishing and construction, and expects to build as many as 20 boats this year. The S10 sells for between $300,000 and $400,000.
