Autonomous Coastal Monitor™ (ACM™)

A long-dwell autonomous surface vessel employing a highly stable SWATH hull form, large deck and mission bays, and versatile tunnel space between the demi-hulls

Technology Overview

The ACM™ is a family of versatile autonomous surface vessels emphasizing long-dwell missions involving surveillance, data gathering, and communications.

The ACM 3™ has completed SBIR Phase III and has been deployed to accomplish science missions and technology demonstrations for NOAA and other customers.

ACM™ variants up to 12 meters are in mature states of design and are ready to be tailored for specified missions.

Key Features and Benefits

  • Distinctive SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) configuration provides highly stable platform and expansive mission areas topside and between the demihulls.

  • Integrated solar-electric power and propulsion system provides nearly unlimited endurance and is engineered to provide 24/7 operation at 2-3 knots on a single solar day’s charge. Larger variants can accommodate supplemental gas or diesel power to dramatically improve sprint speed.

  • Composite-on-aluminum construction results in a durable and lightweight design that is simple to produce and low cost, using easily-sourced material and commercial techniques. Production at scale is possible even with non-traditional manufacturers.

  • Fully autonomous operation is enabled by a proven code base with additional custom layers that deliver COLREGS compliance, ensuring craft safety and compliance with the rules of the road. The autonomy system is easily modified with additional layers to suit specific mission requirements.

  • All craft systems utilize Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components, which are easily interchangeable with commercial equivalents, supporting supply chain resilience at scale and mitigating obsolescence risk.

  • Equipment can be mounted on the mast above the solar panels, within the bays beneath the panels, on a drop pole between the demi-hulls, or in the lower hulls, providing numerous options for air, surface, and subsurface sensing.