Steatite delivers first battery module to power NOC’s latest Autosub

Steatite has delivered the first battery module for the National Oceanography Centre’s latest autonomous research submersible, Autosub 2KUI.

Steatite is a partner at the NOC’s Marine Robotics Innovation Centre and has been working collaboratively with the NOC for several years. The Autosub Long Range, more affectionately known as Boaty McBoatface, is already powered by Steatite battery packs.

The Autosub 2KUI is designed to house 48 of the 1.25kWhr modules at a time, with each module designed to operate at depths of up to 6000 metres where pressure is over 600 times greater than at that at the ocean surface. This crushing pressure, along with low temperature, presents a number of complex design issues for battery packs and associated electronics.

Equipped with state-of-the art sonars and camera systems to enable scientists to create detailed maps and establish habitat characteristics of the seafloor, the new AUV has under-ice navigation capabilities so it can operate underneath vast areas of sea ice or glaciers.

The battery packs are designed to provide constant power to the Autosub for extended duration operation.

Crewkerne battery facility signage change

Our battery pack manufacturing facility in Crewkerne, Somerset has had a change of signage to bring it in line with the other Steatite buildings in Redditch and Leominster.

In 2016, Steatite acquired Creasefield batteries and centred the entire battery business unit at the new site in Somerset. This facility houses everything from design, engineering and manufacturing, to distribution and associated office functions all at the one location, thereby creating a single site centre of excellence for our battery business.

The change in exterior signage is a major step in the integration of the facility into the Steatite brand. Interior branding elements, including wall panels and Steatite polo shirts, further aligns the site with our other facilities.

As a nod to the former branding, the illuminated ‘plus’ and ‘minus’ elements of the old signage have been retained and will be re-located within the building.

ALR displayed at science museum

The National Oceanography Centre’s autonomous submersible the Autosub Long Range (ALR) is the centrepiece of a new exhibition at the Science Museum in London, which explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. The free exhibition, Driverless: Who is in control? runs until October 2020 and is expected to be seen by more than a million and a half visitors.

Power for the ALR is provided by Steatite battery packs. The Lithium primary battery packs are housed in the forward of 2 forged spheres contained within the plastic housing of the vehicle.

Designed to operate at depths of up to 6,000m, the ALR is fully autonomous and able to run unaided for weeks at a time. Reliability of the battery system is therefore of paramount importance with the batteries needing to provide a continuous source of power to the vehicle in temperatures as low as 4°c.