Greensea IQ Demonstrates Autonomous UXO Detection with Bayonet 350 in Live Deployment

Greensea IQ successfully supported a live autonomous Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) detection and classification demonstration at the former Maine Bombing Area. Showcasing the Bayonet 350 Autonomous Underwater Ground Vehicle (AUGV) operating in surf, shallow water, and nearshore environments while towing a UXO detection sensor sled. The deployment demonstrated reliable, high-accuracy data collection, as well as autonomous operations in complex coastal conditions.

Greensea IQ’s Bayonet 350, outfitted with an RTK-GPS system, supported the deployment and operation of White River Technologies’ APEX three-dimensional electromagnetic (3D EM) system. Greensea IQ and White River Technologies have partnered to create a viable and commercially available solution for maritime UXO detection, classification, and mapping.

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) refers to the munitions that were deployed but failed to detonate and remain in the environment. These materials are commonly found in former military training and testing areas, including coastal regions, beaches, and nearshore waters. The former Maine Bombing Area is a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) located in Reid State Park and the site of a World War II bombing range. This demonstration, funded through the Department of War’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), aimed to validate emerging UXO detection capabilities in real-world operational conditions.

UXO presents a significant risk to both public safety and the environment. These hazards can remain active for decades, posing danger to civilians, marine operations, and coastal development. In many cases, large areas of seabed and shoreline remain restricted due to the presence or suspected presence of UXO.

Historically, identifying and classifying UXO in nearshore environments has been a complex and resource-intensive process. Traditional methods typically require manual surveying in hazardous areas and can struggle to distinguish between actual threats and benign metallic debris. As a result, many impacted areas remain unaddressed due to the difficulty, cost, and risk associated with large-scale detection and classification. Greensea IQ CEO Ben Kinnaman explains:

“Unexploded ordnance is a major issue in the ocean, especially on beaches, sounds, and marshes. UXO presents both a public safety risk and an environmental hazard. Historically, these areas have been difficult to address because there has not been a reliable way to efficiently search large areas and accurately distinguish UXO from typical seabed trash. The Bayonet AUGV, paired with the APEX system from White River Technologies, enables autonomous surveying of large seabed areas while producing accurate maps of classified threats. This allows for more efficient and precise mitigation. This technology provides a cost-effective way to address a significant public safety challenge and reopen impacted areas for recreation and public use.”

Over five days of field operations, including through a New England blizzard, the Bayonet 350 conducted autonomous surveys over approximately eight acres of surf zone, swash zone, and shoreline with no downtime due to system failures or issues.  

Data collected during demonstration was processed by White River Technologies using advanced geophysical classification (AGC) methods to generate maps and identify Targets of Interest for follow-on investigation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The operation demonstrated the Bayonet 350’s ability to:

• Autonomously survey hazardous nearshore environments in harsh weather conditions
• Collect high-resolution geophysical data with precise positioning
• Reduce risk by eliminating the need for personnel in dangerous surf and swash zones
• Support scalable, data-driven UXO response operations