U.A.E.’s shipbuilding company Al Seer Marine unveiled the first 3D-printed unmanned surface vessel (USV) HYDRA at the NAVDEX 2023 exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
The first 3D-printed surface drone, the HYDRA USV, was manufactured in the company’s large 3D printing facility, which is defined as the world’s largest robotic additive manufacturing machinery.
The Hydra is a 350 kg USV with a 5m length. The printing process took 5 days, in addition to the design and engineering work for the drone. Despite the fact that Al Seer Marine floated the drone prior to the exhibition and displayed the floating video on its booth, this is a technological demonstration platform, and the company is still developing the system to manufacture more drone parts with 3D printers. According to company representatives at the booth, they are working on a lighter USV that will be manufactured using a 3D printer.
The company revealed that they will print an integrated mast for the drone, and power the drone with electric motors. The Hydra is a stealth-shaped boat, and the sensors will be located inside of the vessel. After completing the development, the USV will be used for ISR missions.
Additive Manufacturing Unit
Commonly referred to as 3D printing, additive manufacturing uses computer-aided design (CAD) software or 3D object scanners to produce lighter, stronger parts and systems. The technology provides numerous advantages during the manufacturing process, enabling engineers to design parts with increased complexity in drastically shorter timeframes.
Al Seer Marine’s new business unit is expected to leverage the latest additive manufacturing technologies for the company’s in-house manufacturing of unmanned vessels and vehicles. The business unit will also develop large-scale additive manufacturing (LSAM) products and parts that are in high-demand regionally and globally.
Al Seer Marine has invested in the worlds largest robot-based 3D printing set-up which is a custom Flexbot which produces large-scale parts with speed, reliability and precision, with two robots operating on a 36-meter track.
From spare parts, to vehicles and vessels, Al Seer Marine will be using 3D printing for a more sustainable manufacturing method.
