Theseus (AUV)

Theseus is a large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed for laying fibre-optic cable on the seafloor.

To help solve the cable-laying problem, DREP turned to International Submarine Engineering Ltd, of Port Coquitlam, BC.

Theseus was first deployed to the Arctic in the spring of 1995 to validate transportation logistics, confirm vehicle operations, and to develop cable delivery and recovery techniques.

At ISE's headquarters in Port Coquitlam, Theseus was broken down into modular sections, flown to CFS Alert in C-130 Hercules aircraft, then slung by helicopter out to Jolliffe Bay where it was re-assembled under a large heated tent.

In the spring of 1996, Theseus was deployed back to Jolliffe Bay for a full-length cable-laying mission in support of Project Spinnaker.

The bow section was free-flooding and contained the obstacle avoidance sonar, forward variable ballast tank/pump, acoustic telemetry transducer, and strobe lights.

Six electrically operated dive planes (2 at the bow, 4 at the stern) provide control and stability in the pitch, roll, and yaw axes.