Russian specialists from the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (TsKBR) have developed an autonomous unmanned boat called "Yunost-82," capable of making multiple circumnavigations without refueling, according to Dmitry Kuzyakin, the center's general designer.
The device, despite the absence of a nuclear power plant, can cover distances sufficient for several trips around the globe, thanks to the intelligent use of ocean current maps. The navigation principle is based on a strategy similar to that used by sea turtles: the main movement is carried out by natural currents, and the built-in motors are used only to correct the trajectory — for example, when switching between currents or staying within the flow.
Surprisingly, from an engineering point of view, there is more in common between strike FPV drones and the unmanned boat "Yunost-82" than between the same boat and a sea torpedo.
The speed of the device corresponds to the speed of the ocean currents in which it is located. To reduce visibility, the design is made with minimal windage and is constantly in a semi-submerged state, which makes it difficult to detect by both radar and acoustic means. Nevertheless, to ensure the safety of navigation, the boat is equipped with special transponders.
According to Kuzyakin, despite its modest dimensions, "Yunost-82" has sufficient displacement to carry scientific equipment. The main purpose of the device is to conduct meteorological and environmental studies, including monitoring the quality of atmospheric air and the radiation situation in coastal areas.