The Newcastle Marine Autonomous Vehicle Lab maintains and develops a diverse fleet of autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), ranging from compact experimental platforms to larger, mission‑ready systems. These vehicles form the core of the Lab’s capability to design, prototype, test and deploy next‑generation autonomous marine technologies.

Current Research Focus: Low‑Energy Marine Platforms

The Lab’s primary research direction centres on low‑energy autonomous systems that enable long‑duration missions with minimal power consumption. Two flagship developments anchor this work:

• ECHO Glider

A buoyancy‑driven AUV designed for long‑range, long‑endurance ocean observation. Research focuses on hydrodynamic efficiency, low‑power sensing, adaptive control and digital twins for mission optimisation.

• Wave Glider

A surface-subsurface hybrid platform that harvests wave energy for propulsion. Work includes wave‑induced thrust modelling, energy‑aware autonomy, and integration of environmental and oceanographic sensors.

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