Ultrabeam’s Axolotl builds on the development of Project Argonaut to create a more portable autonomous amphibious survey vehicle for land and water surveying.

Axolotl was purpose built for Phase 2 of DSTL’s Map the Gap competition, a military R&D program looking at novel methodologies to map river crossings in enemy territory remotely.

Axolotl has 4×4 wheel drive powered by dual 8Kw electric motors and is capable of 12mph on land. Two Epropulsion 3kW 6HP equivelant thrusters provide the on water power for max speeds of 4mph. Using 48V 21.2kWh Tesla batteries the vehicle is capable of over 12 hours endurance on land or water for maximum range of up to 60mph. Charging from 10% to 90% takes 2 hours.

It is equipped with a diverse range of sensors that provide comprehensive data on ground conditions.

By enabling autonomous operations, the vehicle reduces the need for human intervention and can be operated from a safe distance, away from potential hazards.

Real-time data from the onboard Norbit MBES and dual Ouster laser system allows for prompt decision-making, while also being processed to generate a three-dimensional visualization of the surrounding topography and bathymetry. This combination of features ensures efficient and accurate data collection while minimizing risk to human operators.