Riga, Latvia – April 12, 2025 – Company “Dronelab" with announces a significant achievement – the prototype of an autonomous boat called UAV "Sea Wolf” a successful long-distance test mission. During the mission, the boat traveled more than 13.5 kilometers in fully autonomous mode, demonstrating the reliability and high performance of the company's developed technologies.
The mission lasted 3.4 hours, during which the Sea Wolf autonomously navigated a predetermined route using GPS and onboard sensors. The boat's average speed was approximately 1.5-2 meters per second. This test is a significant step "Dronelab” in the development of autonomous water platforms.
“Sea Wolf” is equipped with a modern telemetry system (based on 868Mhz ISM technology), which ensured stable and continuous data transmission between the boat and the control point even at a considerable distance and in conditions of difficult direct visibility. The energy source was six 10 Ah LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries with integrated battery management systems (BMS). Despite the initially lower voltage reading due to cool environmental conditions, the batteries provided a stable power supply throughout the mission. A powerful LED strobe was used for additional safety and visibility.
Data obtained during the mission indicate high system efficiency:
- Average current consumption: approximately 1.5 amps.
- Total energy consumption for the mission: 5.1 ampere-hours (Ah).
- Estimated energy efficiency: 370 milliampere-hours per kilometer (mAh/km).
Based on this data and the total capacity of the installed batteries (about 60 Ah nominal, with a safety margin of ~42 Ah usable capacity), the theoretical range of the "Sea Wolf" on a single charge could exceed 100 kilometers (calculated ~113 km), which would allow for missions lasting even more than 28 hours at this speed.
“This successful test mission is a clear testament to our team’s ability to develop robust and reliable autonomous systems,” says Dronelab Lead Engineer Normunds. “We are pleased with the performance demonstrated by ‘Sea Wolf’ and the amount of data collected, which will allow us to continue to refine this platform for future applications.”
At the end of the mission, the boat was successfully recovered ashore. Tests confirmed that its hull was completely dry and all systems were functioning without failures, which once again confirms the quality of the construction and its watertightness.
About Dronelab
Dronelab is a Latvian technology company specializing in the development and engineering of unmanned systems, including autonomous boats and drones, offering innovative solutions for various industries and research needs.
Contacts
- mail(at)dronelab.lv
- Saliena, Mārupe municipality, LV-2107
