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In this list, there is the ASEMAR project which aims at developing a new generation of drones, the AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) for missions of maritime security. This project will receive a 5 million euro subsidy of public financing.

Until now oceanography and offshore oil rigs were the main users of autonomous submarine vehicles - the UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle). This UUV navigates "wirelessly" but according to a pre-defined trajectory which cannot be modified during their mission.

In the future a new generation of drones, more autonomous and more intelligent will be developed for delicate investigations notably concerning security. Indeed missions for detecting objects on the sea bed (lost cargos of dangerous or polluting materials, dumped materials by drug traffickers , even terrorists, sunken vessels) require more autonomous machines which are therefore more intelligent. These submarine vehicles will memorise the geographic data necessary for their mission. At a depth of 300 meters , they will be capable of making the right decision and to react to unforeseen events by adapting their trajectory, thanks to the combination of several systems of detection: sonar, camera, physico-chemical sensors ...

The ASEMAR project is piloted by Thales in partnership with ECA, IXSea, Sercel. All of these companies, already strongly present each in their speciality on the world UUV market, are also associated with public and private research laboratories (the ENSIETA, the ISEN, the ENSTB, the Naval School). Together, they will conceive and will produce an AUV prototype of the 1 tonne type that will be offered on the international market.