Arkeus HSOR enhances Ocius Bluebottle for maritime surveillance
Arkeus's Surface Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR) has been integrated and tested on the Ocius Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel to enhance autonomous maritime surveillance for Australia.
The collaboration brings together Australian-developed technologies in the maritime surveillance sector, with the integration of Arkeus's AI-powered optical sensing system onto the Ocius Bluebottle USV. The result is a platform capable of extended, persistent maritime domain awareness without the direct involvement of personnel at sea.
According to Arkeus, the HSOR technology provides operators on the Bluebottle platform with improved capability for detecting vessels, personnel, and objects in maritime environments, particularly where visibility is degraded. The system's AI-based spectral sensing delivers real-time identification and tracking of objects at significant range, with reduced instances of false positives, even in challenging operational conditions.
Simon Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of Arkeus, commented on the collaboration with Ocius and its potential implications for Australia's capability at sea:
"We're incredibly proud to be selected by Ocius for this important collaboration. Integrating our Surface HSOR with Bluebottle not only reinforces our leadership in maritime surveillance, but also demonstrates the ability for our two companies to deliver greater range and coverage in the most challenging operational environments in which our customers operate."
Olsen added, "Together, we're delivering technology that extends operational reach, enhances safety, and underpins Australia's strategic capability at sea."
The partnership is positioned as a contribution to Australia's sovereign defence innovation ecosystem, with both companies emphasising the strategic objective of reducing reliance on foreign technology suppliers, and supporting national priorities under the AUKUS security partnership.
Robert Dane, Chief Executive Officer of Ocius Technology, highlighted the significance of the partnership from the perspective of the Bluebottle platform:
"The integration of Arkeus's cutting-edge surface hyperspectral optical radar with our Bluebottle platform represents a significant step forward in autonomous maritime surveillance. It also underscores our commitment to leveraging sovereign technologies to deliver unmatched operational capabilities."
The Bluebottle USV, equipped with the integrated HSOR, operates as a self-sustaining, long-endurance sensor platform. Its design allows for expanded surveillance and reconnaissance coverage in maritime environments, functioning as a low-profile node within a networked system. By keeping personnel and high-value assets out of potentially hostile settings, the platform is suited for use in denied or sensitive areas.
Arkeus described the technical benchmarks of the HSOR system, noting its capacity for continuous surface and near-surface detection using advanced optics and autonomy. Its real-time processing is designed to support a wide range of applications, from search and rescue through to border protection and countering illegal maritime activity.
Olsen reinforced the company's view on the operational utility of the Bluebottle USV and HSOR combination:
"We believe this combination of technologies delivers a force-multiplier for naval operations."
The system, according to Arkeus, has already been operationally tested and is available for customers seeking maritime domain awareness solutions in environments where traditional crewed surveillance may not be viable due to risk or endurance constraints.
This integration is presented as an example of the progress being made by Australian companies in autonomous defence-related technology and its alignment with current security arrangements and capabilities pursued by national stakeholders.
