The marine energy sector could be turned on its head with the arrival of a new tentacular underwater robot designed to improve safety and precision in critical infrastructure inspections. The project is a collaboration between the UK’s National Robotarium and Brazil’s Senai Cimatec.
A flexible solution for complex environments
The one-meter-long soft manipulator incorporates a flexible backbone and a tendon cable system that allows it to adapt to contact surfaces. This feature differentiates it from traditional rigid manipulators, offering greater safety when interacting with pipelines, valves and subsea structures.
Maintaining offshore equipment represents a costly challenge, with estimates exceeding $100 billion in offshore infrastructure decommissioning by 2030. Extending the life of pipelines and systems through safer inspections reduces costs and reduces the industry’s environmental footprint.
Tentacular underwater robot withstands extreme forces
Tests conducted in the National Robotarium’s wave tank show that the tentacular arm can maintain its stability even when subjected to external forces of up to 300g. In addition, the robot is able to correct its position within seconds after any disturbance, making it an ideal tool for inspections at depths approaching 3000 meters.
The device is intended to be deployed from underwater vehicles for inspections of offshore wind farms. offshore wind farmsoffshore wind farms, pipelines and energy platforms. Its ability to operate in turbulent environments opens up new possibilities for offshore energy companies and inspection service providers seeking to improve safety and reduce occupational hazards.
The robot could transform the inspection and maintenance of millions of kilometers of subsea infrastructure worldwide. Source: The National Robotarium
International collaboration in soft robotics
The development is part of a joint effort between British and Brazilian researchers to apply the soft robotics to marine engineering problems. This technology, traditionally associated with delicate laboratory tasks, has been successfully scaled to demanding ocean environments.
The tentacular underwater robot will be officially unveiled during the UK Robotics Expo at the National Robotarium on September 18. With its potential to change the way in which offshore inspections are conducted offshore inspectionsThis breakthrough positions itself as a benchmark in innovation for safety and sustainability in the marine energy sector.
Source and photo: The National Robotarium
