Engineering students from the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) are gaining hands-on experience with technologies that could play a key role in the future of maritime safety and surveillance.
In a recent demonstration at Horten’s inner harbour, the student team Navier USN and two bachelor projects showcased a suite of underwater and surface technologies developed in close collaboration with Kongsberg Discovery. The system includes a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), a hydrophone-based harbour monitoring setup, and an autonomous surface vessel equipped with advanced sensors.
Photo: USN
Targeting underwater threats with sonar technology
These systems are designed to increase situational awareness below the surface—and may strengthen underwater security in ports and coastal areas by detecting threats such as sabotage or smuggling.
The demonstration was linked to the EU-funded project Smart Maritime And Underwater Guardian (SMAUG), where USN is responsible for developing anti-sabotage capabilities using sonar-based detection.
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Hands-on experience through industry collaboration
“This is a great opportunity. We’re lucky to have strong support from Kongsberg Discovery, including access to facilities where we can test every day,” said engineering student Mats Heggelund, who was involved in building the blue ROV featured in the demonstration.
The project is a strong example of how collaboration between academia and industry helps develop new solutions—while also building competence and connections in the next generation of ocean technology professionals.
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Navier USN in NJORD-challenge 2024. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster
About Navier USN
Navier USN is a student-driven maritime technology team at the University of South-Eastern Norway, bringing together engineering students with a shared interest in autonomy, robotics, and ocean innovation. The team is a member of Ocean Autonomy Cluster and actively participates in collaborative initiatives that connect students with industry and research environments. Navier USN also takes part in the annual NJORD competition in Trondheim, where student teams from across Norway demonstrate autonomous maritime systems in real-world scenarios.