Smarty200 is a 200m depth-rated Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) developed under EPSRC EP/V035975/1 for advanced seafloor mapping and autonomy. It consists of a Sparus II main-frame (Iqua robotics), integrating accurate navigation (Sonardyne Sprintnav-mini, Avtrack-nano USBL) and high-resolution seafloor laser scanning and strobed imaging (Voyis RECON). It also has edge computing (Jetson Xavier GPU) for realtime processing, and can communicate over-horizon when surfaced via the Iridium satellite network.
Its strobes are mounted on side wings with a line laser mounted in the nose section. Cameras are mounted along the centreline in an extended aft section to maximise the optical baseline to the strobes and lasers for increased image clarity and bathymetric resolution. The Sprintnav-mini DVL-INS is mounted in the nose for safe altitude keeping during forward motion, and USBL nano is also mounted in the fore section to minimise noise effects from the AUVs thrusters. Its dimensions are L2.0 x 0.3 x 0.3, weighing 70kg in air, with a mapping endurance of ~10h. Download Specification
In the field
Smarty200 has succesfully completed 70 dives since it was developed in 2022. We have demonstrated realtime processing of images using machine learning to feedback observations into vehicle navigation on the fly. Algorithms also generate content aware summaries of large datasets so they can be sent over satellite bandwidths at the end of each mission, giving operators the ability to interact with large datasets without relying on vehicle recovery.
We have demonstrated the ability to search for, detect and track subsea communication cables by leveraging uncertain prior maps of cable routes.
Cruises
EE25-01: Survey of Cawsand Bay seafloor infrastructure off the Echo Explorer (PI Thornton, March 2025).
EE24-01: Survey of Cawsand Bay seafloor infrastructure off the Echo Explorer (PI Thornton, November 2024).
SS24-01: Survey of Cawsand Bay seafloor infrastructure off the Sound Surveyor (PI Thornton, April 2024).
RK23-01: Survey of Studland Bay ecomoorings off the dive support vessel the Rocket (PI Thornton, September 2023).
RK22-02: Survey of Studland Bay ecomoorings off the dive support vessel the Rocket (PI Massot, September 2022).
RK22-01: Survey of Studland Bay ecomoorings off the dive support vessel the Rocket (PI Kaseem, July 2022).