French remotely operated underwater vehicle of the Ifremer
Épaulard is a French remotely operated underwater vehicle of the Ifremer. She was the first robotic submarine capable of taking photographs at a depth of 6000 metres. Built in 1980, Épaulard was decommissioned in 1991.
Design
Épaulard was designed and built by ECA Group[2] She was teleoperated from a support ship by means of acoustic signals.[1] While the submarine herself displaced three tonnes, the entire system would use up 35m² of deck space and weight 20 tonnes; such systems were installed on a number of Ifremer ships such as Noroît, Suroît, Atalante or Jean Charcot.[1]
In 1983, she was upgraded with a vertical propeller and a remote TV system with acoustic broadcast of images.[1]
Career
Starting in 1981, Épaulard was used for the study of nodules and shipwrecks on the Pacific seafloor.[1]
She was decommissioned in 1991, having performed 200 missions.[1]
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