Metron Inc. (Metron), a trusted provider of advanced research, scientific, and software solutions for government and commercial markets, has announced a strategic partnership with Cellula Robotics, USA Inc. (Cellula), aimed at expanding uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) capabilities for advanced operations in dynamic environments. This partnership addresses specific technical gaps in the UUV defense and offshore energy markets, particularly for long-duration, multi-payload mission operations where communications are often denied or restricted.
As part of this alliance, Metron’s Resilient Mission Autonomy™ portfolio will be integrated into Cellula’s Solus and Imotus families of vehicles to deliver AI-enabled situational awareness and execute real-time onboard mission adaption, rerouting, and replanning. The integration also includes a multi-payload management system, providing flexibility for ship or port-to-port mission deployments.
“This strategic collaboration signifies a major milestone in harnessing the expertise of Metron and Cellula to advance the frontier of long duration, multi-payload subsea capabilities,” said Van Gurley, CEO of Metron. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Cellula to deliver disruptive innovations that will enable greater capability and impact for U.S. Defense and commercial clients.”
Furthermore, Cellula’s Solus-LR and Solus-XR platforms, equipped with cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell technology, will support sustainable, long-duration operations with zero carbon emissions. This scalable UUV solution with a reconfigurable vehicle profile aims to lower risk, reduce costs, and maximize mission flexibility and efficiencies to better serve the U.S. Defense, Offshore energy, subsea telecommunications, and marine scientific exploration markets.
“This partnership represents a shared commitment to leverage expertise in the areas of hardware, software, and fuel cell technologies to expand UUV missions for dynamic and long-duration missions,” stated Neil Manning, CEO of Cellula Robotics, USA. ” The combined brain trust of Cellula and Metron brings hundreds of years of real world expertise to solve many of the challenges seen in subsea harsh environments, and reaffirms the critical role industry has to play delivering disruptive innovations into the evolving landscape of surface and subsea maritime missions.”
As surface and subsea operations evolve, government agencies and commercial companies are looking to accelerate the development of uncrewed platforms capable of working alone or in tandem to cover larger areas more efficiently and sustainably, especially in commercial surveys and in environments for extended periods of time.
Metron and Cellula will actively deliver their joint solutions to national security stakeholders and commercial offshore energy customers. Additionally, they will be engaged in offshore energy inspection and survey technology developments to enhance operational planning, execution, and data deliveries for the entire offshore supply chain. By commercializing long operational endurance, payload, and mission-capable systems, the partnership aims to enable multiple weeks at sea, above and below the waves, with lower risks and reduced costs.
