EyeROV Delivers TROUT Underwater ROVs to Indian Navy Under Five-System Order

Kerala-based marine robotics company EyeROV has delivered two TROUT underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to the Indian Navy, as part of a five-system order. TROUT is described as the first military-grade ROV developed in India and has been designed for naval operations including underwater inspection, surveillance, search and recovery, detection and other tasks.

The system was developed under the iDEX DISC 7 SPRINT Challenge, an initiative for developing indigenous technologies for the Indian Armed Forces, with the Indian Navy serving as the nodal agency for the programme.

Before being delivered, TROUT underwent field trials and system-level checks covering its ability to operate at depth, manoeuvre underwater, work in strong currents, detect objects, navigate and function for extended periods.

The ROV also underwent quality checks through the Directorate of Quality Assurance (Naval) and testing to assess its performance under demanding environmental and operating conditions.

EyeROV CEO and co-founder Johns T Mathai said the delivery marked the completion of an indigenous development programme and the deployment of the system with the Navy. CTO and co-founder Kannappa Palaniappan said the development involved integrating mechanical, electronic, software, navigation and control systems into a single underwater platform.

TROUT is intended for operations in deep waters, poor visibility, strong currents and difficult-to-access locations, where conventional underwater work can be challenging or hazardous. Underwater robotic systems are increasingly being used for tasks related to maritime security, underwater infrastructure, harbour security, inspection and search and recovery.

Founded in Kochi, EyeROV develops remotely operated and autonomous underwater systems for applications including defence, offshore energy, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring and research.