The technology is currently undergoing trials as part of UNITE (Underwater Intervention for Offshore Renewable Energies), an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership programme led by Heriot-Watt University in collaboration with Imperial College London, geo-data specialist Fugro and underwater software developer Frontier Robotics, and supported by the National Robotarium, the UK’s centre for robotics and AI.
The project’s outcomes could ‘dramatically reduce’ the need for large maintenance vessels in offshore wind farm operations, supporting a shift towards fully remote operations and enhancing safety by reducing the need for personnel to work in hazardous offshore environments.
In a statement, David Morrison, project manager at the National Robotarium, said: “Our trials are showing promising results in enabling underwater robots to maintain stable contact with offshore structures in challenging conditions. If successful, the technology could transform offshore wind maintenance, potentially reducing fuel consumption of maintenance missions by up to 97 per cent - from 7,000 litres per day to just 200 litres. This could significantly lower both operational costs and the carbon footprint of maintenance.”
It is hoped that autonomous underwater robots could perform a range of maintenance tasks on offshore wind turbines, including taking precise measurements, conducting visual inspections, cleaning structures, and repairing defects.
To achieve this level of autonomous operation, the project aims to solve the so called “chicken head problem” - keeping a robot's arm or tool steady against a structure despite being buffeted by currents and waves. To meet this challenge, advanced control systems and machine learning algorithms are being developed to allow robots to adapt in real-time to changing conditions.
Additionally, the project is advancing 3D semantic mapping capabilities that would enable robots to create detailed maps of their underwater environment. This could enhance a robot’s ability to navigate complex structures and identify components needing attention.
Furthermore, the partnership is advancing the coordination of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Electric ROVs (eROVs) deployed from Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). This coordination is important for achieving fully autonomous inspections and further reducing the need for support vessels and human divers.
The UK has 2,695 offshore wind turbines, with plans to quadruple capacity by 2030. On average, each turbine requires up to three maintenance check-ups per year, a frequency that increases as turbines age.
Frontier Robotics, based at the National Robotarium, is providing perception, mapping and autonomy technologies for the project, integrating advanced stereo camera systems with edge computing to support the AI systems being tested. If successful, the system could deliver data insights in three hours, compared to the current industry standard of three weeks.
Jonatan Scharff Willners, CEO of Frontier Robotics, said: “With the exponential growth of offshore infrastructure, we need to look towards deploying more AI, robots and autonomy to enable the industry to take advantage of new technologies to work even more efficiently and to scale with the global demand. It is great to work closely with Heriot-Watt University, the National Robotarium and Fugro to tackle these highly important problems, which are key components if we want to transition to renewable energy using a greener and more sustainable supply-chain.”
The £1.4m UNITE project is led by Professor Yvan Petillot from Heriot-Watt University with Dr. Sen Wang leading Imperial College London's contributions.
Energy companies interested in following the development of this technology or exploring potential collaborations are encouraged to contact the National Robotarium.
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