CONEXUS: Comms and Operation Node for Expeditionary Underwater Systems

The Navy's continued pursuit of standoff in dangerous and high risk environments is challenging for Navy EOD operators due to operation in currents, extended depths, and the limits that underwater operations put on communications. To this end, Boston Engineering had developed the Communications and Operation Node for Expeditionary Underwater Systems (CONEXUS), an integration kit that provides 3-5kyds of standoff between expeditionary EOD teams the ROVs used to interrogate mines. CONEXUS consists of a floating surface system, a station keeping clump device, and interfaces for currently used ROVs. The floating surface system includes inflatable supports to maintain deployment ease and ensure vertical positioning of the communications antennas. This is connected to the station keeping clump device which features thrusters, an aft fin stabilizer, and dual winches to adjust tether lengths to the surface system and the ROV. This clump device allows for integration of a range of the currently used or in-evaluation ROVs, without impacting the existing ROV-specific operations, CONOPs, or training. This technical approach is supported by our highly experienced team, which mitigates risk, enables mission options for the Navy of the future, and provides a high probability of success in productization and eventually transition.