A San Diego-based technology company has developed a new underwater robot designed to assist the U.S. Marine Corps in clearing sea mines and reducing the risks associated with explosive ordnance disposal. Greensea IQ's Bayonet 250 is described as an "all-around workhorse" capable of operating in challenging conditions, from beachheads through surf zones and down to depths of 100 meters (approximately 328 feet).
The U.S. Navy recently finalized an $18 million contract with the defense tech firm, a move that followed increased mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year. The Bayonet 250 is designed to withstand severe weather and rough ocean floors while carrying up to 200 pounds of payload, such as sensors and mine-detection equipment.
"It's the only system that can operate from the beach head through the surf zone out to deep water or reverse," Fred Gaghan, General Manager for Bayonet and a retired U.S. Navy captain, told NBC San Diego. This capability allows for mine detection and explosive ordnance disposal to be conducted directly from the shore.
Weighing 450 pounds and measuring 4 feet by 4 feet, the autonomous vehicle can be assembled in the field by two people without specialized tools. The development aims to significantly enhance safety by allowing the robot to perform hazardous tasks that previously required technicians to operate at close range, sometimes resulting in casualties. Dennis Doan, product manager for explosive ordnance disposal systems at Greensea IQ and a former Navy EOD Technician, noted that the robot "is saving so many lives by having something like this be able to go down range for us and do this work."