Rubin Design Bureau unveils its new design at the Army-2024 show: an Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Argus-D. It is the system for deployment (that is why "D" is used in the name of the AUV) of various payloads, for example, seismic ocean bottom nodes, sensors for environmental parameter acquisition, etc. The AUV can deploy on the ocean floor scientific instruments to collect data on the ocean acoustic signature, particularly to fetch out the maritime shipping contribution to the acoustic signature of specific ocean areas or to register biological activity.
Argus-D rests on technologies that made possible the ultra deep water AUV Vityaz-D accomplishment of the first fully autonomous mission in the Mariana Trench.
Argus-D is the first project of an AUV with detachable payload in Russia. A space up to 2 m long, 0.55 m wide and 0.5 m high is provided for it in the payload section of AUV hull. A payload can be releasably attached to the exterior of the AUV.
Argus-D operates independently of a manned mother ship and has an endurance of about 20 hours at 3 kn (1.5 m/s).
An AUV application contributes to environmental improvement: unlike engines of a surface ship, an AUV engine releases no CO2 that makes an impact on global climate change. Extra Li-Ion battery for enhancing endurance may be integrated in the payload.
The full speed of Argus-D - up to 6 kn (3.0 m/s). Diving depth is 1 km and can be increased up to 3 km. The AUV length is 8.9 m, diameter - 1 m, weight in air - about 5.5 tons. The vehicle is equipped with an obstacle avoidance system. Operation near the bottom is ensured by forward looking sonars, Doppler Velocity Log and altimeter. The vehicle is transported in a standard 40-foot container.
The open architecture provides the AUV interoperability with other developers' systems and reduces cost of its life cycle. Argus-D can be tailored to customer requirements. Easy access is provided to the vehicle sub-systems and battery for fast maintenance.
Argus-D is a member of the Argus family developed by Rubin Design Bureau. The first unit of this family was presented at the Army 2023 show; it is designed for a wide range of tasks during the development of underwater oil & gas fields, including the protection of underwater infrastructure.
Rubin Design Bureau is engaged in active discussions of issues related to AUV-deployer creation with concerned research institutes. The development of new ocean bottom nodes using the latest achievements in radio electronics, power systems and software is under consideration.