California-based Marine Advanced Robotics is bringing an ultralight catamaran with hulls mounted on smart, spring-loaded legs with the remarkable Wave-Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V). Using springs and ball joints, they absorb shocks and move with the waves. This makes them ideally suited to environments where other vessels of the same size cannot go.
The WAM-V is highly manoeuvrable and can turn 360 degrees, almost on its own ground surface. In addition, the catamaran is modular, allowing it to be fully customised. The WAM-V is quick to assemble and disassemble and folds up, allowing four 3-metre WAM-Vs to fit into a standard shipping container.
Depending on their size, WAM-Vs can have a manned cabin. Otherwise, they operate autonomously or by remote control. Marine Advanced Robotics has now built and delivered a wide range of formats; from the imposing 30-metre Proteus to the small autonomous 8-footers that can operate in a water depth of 15 cm, thanks to the shallow draft of this design.
A fascinating and effective design that attracts attention every time. Watch a video on this phenomenon below.
