Squarehead and Reach Remote launch acoustic pilot onboard autonomous vessel

The pilot will explore how directional sound sensing can improve condition monitoring and anomaly detection in one of the most challenging onboard environments: the engine room. The collaboration also includes close integration with Massterly’s Remote Operations Center (ROC) in Horten.

The initiative is also part of a broader development trajectory within the Ocean Autonomy ecosystem in Norway, where sensor fusion, remote operations and autonomy technologies are increasingly converging to enable safer and more efficient offshore operations.

Earlier this year, Squarehead Technology highlighted their acoustic AI sensor systems, and Reach Subsea shared their experiences from the first year of Remote at the Ship Technology Days in Ulsteinvik.

A new era of autonomous shipping

Reach Remote 1 is one of the first uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) in the world approved for fully remote-controlled operations. Developed by Reach Subsea, the vessel is designed to execute offshore subsea operations without onboard crew, while being controlled and monitored from shore.

The approval represents a significant step in the transition from pilot projects to operational autonomous shipping. Through Massterly’s ROC, operators on land monitor vessel performance, navigation and safety in real time, effectively replicating key bridge functions without a physical crew onboard.

The vessel forms part of a wider operational model where autonomy is not only a technology layer, but a service framework combining remote control, digital infrastructure and advanced sensing systems.

From military acoustics to maritime insight

Squarehead Technology develops advanced acoustic sensor systems originally designed for defence and security applications, where directional sound detection and real-time analysis of complex acoustic environments are critical. The technology is now increasingly applied in maritime and industrial domains, including autonomous vessels and offshore operations.

As part of the emerging Ocean Autonomy ecosystem, Squarehead contributes to next-generation situational awareness solutions where acoustic intelligence complements traditional sensor systems across autonomous operations.

The company’s microphone array technology combines large-scale acoustic sensing with AI-based analysis, enabling precise localisation of sound sources and detection of anomalies in noisy environments such as machinery spaces and engine rooms.

n maritime autonomy applications, this capability is increasingly described as “superhearing”, enabling remote operators to regain auditory situational awareness from shore-based control centres.

“Engine rooms are acoustically complex, but also rich in information. If we can detect subtle deviations in sound patterns, we can uncover issues that other sensors may not capture,” says Peter A. Brønlund, General Manager and Business Development Director, Industrial.

Stepwise deployment onboard Reach Remote 1

The pilot will be rolled out step by step. A suitable sensor location has already been identified in the compact engine room onboard Reach Remote 1. During a port call in Kristiansund in early May, mounting brackets, power supply, and network cabling will be installed by vessel personnel. At a subsequent port call later in May, Squarehead Technology representatives will install the acoustic array and connect the system to the onboard network.

Following installation, the system will enter a data acquisition phase, collecting baseline sound patterns over time before anomaly detection is activated. Once operational, acoustic events will be transmitted to Massterly’s ROC, where operators can listen to and verify anomalies as part of remote vessel operations.

Developing the next layer of maritime sensing

The ambition is to establish acoustic monitoring as a complementary layer to existing onboard sensor systems, particularly relevant in autonomous and remotely operated vessels where situational awareness must be maintained without crew onboard.

“We see this as a development partnership,” says Brønlund. “Together with Reach Subsea and ROC operators, we are shaping how acoustic data is interpreted and used in real operations.”

The partners are also considering documenting the project as an ongoing series, sharing insights, challenges and results as the system is tested in a live operational environment.

If successful, the technology could enable detection of anomalies that conventional sensor systems miss, adding a new dimension to safety, efficiency, and predictive maintenance in autonomous maritime operations.

About Squarehead Technology

Squarehead is a Norwegian deep-tech company developing advanced acoustic sensor systems that transform sound into actionable situational awareness. Its proprietary microphone arrays, powered by beamforming and machine learning, enable precise detection, localization and classification of sound events in complex environments. Originally developed for defense and security applications, the technology is increasingly used in industrial and maritime settings. 

Squarehead is part of the growing Ocean Autonomy ecosystem in Norway, contributing acoustic sensing capabilities that support autonomous and remotely operated vessel operations.

About Reach Subsea

Reach Subsea is a Norwegian provider of subsea services, including inspection, survey and intervention operations. The company is developing next-generation uncrewed surface vessel capabilities through its Reach Remote program. Reach Remote 1 is designed for fully remote-controlled offshore operations, enabling subsea missions to be carried out without onboard crew, operated from shore via Massterly’s Remote Operations Center.

Shared article by Lars Bugge Aarset, linked to our collaboration within the MIDAS project

Photo: Reach Subsea