To design and test unmanned underwater robit vehicles, Russian submarine designer Rubin has established Marine Robotics Centre which commenced work in Kronstadt, Russia. The facility designs, assembles and tests autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles. The Centre is intended for simultaneous assembly of underwater vehicles of various sizes. Rubin has purchased part of Kronstadt Marine Plant.

The Plan to develop a marine robotics centre was approved by the United Shipbuilding Corporation and  St. Petersburg Administration and production of vehicles were carried in 2017-2021 on the area of 6000 sq. meters. Housing of the production and test facilities on the same premises will considerably reduce resource expenditures and will save production time. The project is being funded by Rubin from its internal resources.

The Marine Robotics Center comprises three manufacturing areas including two assembly jigs,  as well as testing facilities and quality control units. The Center will employ about 100 designers and production workers. It will also serve the interests of other companies of United Shipbuilding Corporation – robot prototypes can be built in accordance of their ship designs.

Rubin is developing the systems in digital environment which reduces concept-to-delivery time and makes it possible to have nearly zero rejection during manufacture and assembly of a vehicle.

Rubin has been working in the field of underwater robotics for 10 years and has designed and constructed, among others, deep-water vehicle Vityaz-D (for the Advanced Research Foundation) – the world’s first UUV that worked in the Mariana Trench, small-class UUV Yunona and a family of small robots Amulet and Talisman. Rubin has also designed unmanned underwater gliders and a complex for under-ice seismic surveys.

Rubin Design Bureau is among world leaders in the design of nuclear and conventional submarines and the largest marine engineering company offering design services in Russia. 1066 submarines in 121 years of our work have been built to Rubin designs, including 950 submarines commissioned by the Russian Navy. Totally 116 submarines designed by Rubin have been exported to 16 countries.

Rubin also develops marine robotic systems and designs the facilities for offshore oil and gas field development. The company is a subsidiary of the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation.