Épaulard
Épaulard is a French remotely operated underwater vehicle of the Ifremer. She is notable as the first robotic submarine capable of taking photographs at a depth of 6000 metres. Built in 1980, Épaulard was decommissioned in 1991.
 Épaulard at La Seyne-sur-Mer | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name: | Épaulard |
| Namesake: | Killer whale |
| Owner: | Ifremer |
| Builder: | ECA Group[1] |
| Commissioned: | 1980[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | remotely operated underwater vehicle |
| Displacement: | 3 tonnes[2] |
| Length: | 4 metres [2] |
| Beam: | 1.1 metres[1] |
| Height: | 2 metres[1] |
| Depth: | 6000 m [2] |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Speed: | 1 m/s[1] |
| Range: | 20 km[2] |
| Endurance: | 7 to 12 hours[1][2] |
| Sensors and processing systems: | 5000-shot BENTHOS 377 photographic camera[1][2] |
| Armour: | Aluminum[3] |
Design
Épaulard was designed and built by ECA Group[1] She was teleoperated from a support ship by means of acoustic signals.[2] 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.[2]
In 1983, she was upgraded with a vertical propeller and a remote TV system with acoustic broadcast of images.[2]
Career
Starting in 1981, Épaulard was used for the study of nodules and shipwrecks on the Pacific seafloor.[2]
She was decommissioned in 1991, having performed 200 missions.[2]
