NTNU to Acquire Kongsberg HUGIN 6000 for Ocean Technology Research

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is set to acquire a HUGIN 6000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from Kongsberg for research at the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre’s Fjordlab facility.

The purchase was announced at the Defence Conference in Trondheim in the presence of Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik, NTNU Rector Tor Grande and representatives from Kongsberg and the university.

The HUGIN 6000 can operate at depths of up to 6,000 metres and will become part of the Norwegian Centre for Ocean Technology’s offshore equipment fleet. NTNU plans to use the system for ocean research and further development of autonomous underwater technologies.

HUGIN 6000 Brings Deep-Sea Mapping Capabilities

The autonomous underwater vehicle is capable of operating across Norway’s territorial waters and can map approximately two to four square kilometres of seabed per hour.

The system is equipped with a high-resolution camera and can operate for up to three days without recharging. Its capabilities include seabed observation and data collection in deep-water environments.

Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik said:

“Norway is a world leader in maritime research and ocean autonomy. HUGIN is the result of long-term technology collaboration between the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Kongsberg, and a strong example of Norwegian high-tech success. Dual-use technology strengthens defence capability. When civilian and military technology development advance together, we build national expertise that enables faster development and innovation,” he said.

The HUGIN programme was developed through collaboration between Kongsberg and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), with the partnership dating back 35 years.

Kongsberg and NTNU to Expand Technology Collaboration

Arne Rinnan, EVP and CTO at Kongsberg, said:

“HUGIN is the autonomous underwater robot that can go far and deep, and that you can expect to return when it has done its job. It has a reliability, robustness, and ability to observe things on the seabed and in the water column that no one else can match,” said Rinnan.

Rinnan added that Kongsberg expects to continue working with NTNU as the university develops further applications and capabilities for the technology.

The Defence Minister also highlighted the research potential associated with the acquisition.

“I am pleased that researchers at the Norwegian Centre for Ocean Technology will be involved in further developing this technology. This will probably be the largest investment in the Fjordlab part of the centre,” said the Minister of Defence.

NTNU to Use HUGIN for Autonomous Underwater Research

According to NTNU Rector Tor Grande, the HUGIN acquisition will expand the university’s ability to conduct research into autonomous maritime systems and ocean environments.

“With HUGIN, the academic communities get an advanced underwater drone that provides great opportunities to explore and understand the ocean better. For us as, a leading university, the purchase of HUGIN is also an important piece in further developing autonomous vessels, which can, among other things, secure oil and gas pipelines, as well as internet and power cables on the seabed,” said Grande.

NTNU said the HUGIN will form part of the Norwegian Centre for Ocean Technology’s offshore equipment fleet. The university expects the system to support research into subsea infrastructure, autonomous operations and ocean observation.

The acquisition also builds on NTNU’s broader focus on science and technology. Established in 1910, NTNU is Norway’s largest university.