NAUTILUS project reaches important milestone on test day in early November 2025
In early November, PLATH reached an important milestone with its partners ProZero and Narda Safety Test Solutions when we tested NAUTILUS at sea under real maritime conditions. The NAUTILUS unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is based on a boat operated by ProZero and equipped with a remote-controlled COMINT/CESM system.
This demonstration is part of our ongoing research and development project, which aims to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and thus validate the system's ability to function as an early warning and situation awareness component in the maritime domain.
NAUTILUS is the combination of an unmanned surface vessel with a remotely controlled COMINT/CESM system. It will operate as an early warning component in order to protect own infrastructure and provide support to the operating navy's maritime situation awareness.
To provide a valid system design, an R&D Project was established in order to reach Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 6 by testing a demonstrator in real-life conditions.
Aim of the Tests
At the current state, a proof of concept of the main functions of the COMINT/CESM equipment had been conducted. As the system design is based on PLATH standard products, that are now used in different environmental conditions, some verification was necessary.
During this test, reception and evaluation of test signals were conducted. This includes scanning the VUHF spectrum, automatically detecting signals in the air and automatically classifying them in terms of physical parameters, modulation type and direction finding as well as ranging tests. The tests were started with a simple scenario and become more complex by changing and adding signals.
Conduction & Conclusion
A test emitter was placed in the harbour using open frequencies to provide a controlled test scenario. A COMINT/CESM kit was installed temporarily on a ProZero-operated boat, in order to verify the correct reception and processing of the test signal under different nautical conditions, such as the boat´s range and movement.
Conclusion:
Together with our partner PLATH could prove successfully, that the scheduled sensor equipment is operational as intended. Furthermore, the impact of different installation factors could be measured and evaluated. As a side effect PLATH could also prove that the own Software tools for expected range depending on frequency and emitting power are valid.