Objective This proposal will develop a multi-purpose inspection and maintenance platform with an advanced navigation system using Hall Effect and optical sensor technology for marine applications. The platform can be launched whenever the vessel is in port or at a nchor. The device will be able to complete its tasks partially whilst in one port and be re-launched at successive points to complete the task. The generic platform will offer the option of using targeted plug-in modules to perform specific inspection or maintenance tasks such as structural integrity monitoring of the ships hull or carrying out cleaning and waste recovery operations.This project offers a means to effectively and efficiently undertake hull inspection and maintenance thereby extending the safe working life of the vessel. Cleaning of the hull ensures the vessel maintains the lowest possible resistance which has an extremely large impact on the hydrocarbon fuel consumed. Therefore ensuring a clean and smooth vessel surface reduces vessel e missions and reduces operating costs. The proposed dead reckoning method will use optical CMOS technology, which tracks surface feature changes. Because platform slip and drift can occur, it is necessary to use known hull features to update the current p osition. With a combination of Hall Effect and CMOS based optical sensors, it is possible to create a map of the structure for the vessel, which can be intelligently learnt, stored and recalled. By saturating the hull by a localised magnetic field, Hall Effect sensors can detect subsurface strengthening struts and other hull structural features, which will be used as unique landmarks. These landmarks will be used to continually and accurately update the dead reckoning sytem so that any drift or platfo rm slip can be corrected. This landmark mapping of the ship's hull can provide 'teach and repeat' capability and be recalled at any time to aid the navigation of the hull. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryhydrocarbonsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robotsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelssocial sciencessocial geographytransportnavigation systems Keywords Hall Effect sensor hull structural mapping optical dead reckoning robotic navigation ship hull cleaning and structural integrity Programme(s) FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SUSTDEV-2.1 - Developing environmentally friendly and competitive transport systems and means of transport Call for proposal FP6-2003-TRANSPORT-3 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE EU contribution No data Address 6 Kensington Terrace NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all GRAAL TECH SRL Italy EU contribution No data Address via Gropallo 4/10 GENOVA See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SHIPBUILDERS AND SHIPREPAIRERS ASSOCIATION United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Marine House, Meadlake Place, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham SURREY See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TECNOVERITAS SERVICOS DE ENGENHARIA E SISTEMAS TECNOLOGICOS Portugal EU contribution No data Address Rua do Moinho Velho 18, Fonte Boa da Brincosa CARVOEIRA See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TEPAC PATENT AND CONSULTING EBERHARD KUEBEL Germany EU contribution No data Address Heide 22 KAARST See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data POLSKI REJESTR STATKOW S.A. Poland EU contribution No data Address Al Gen Jozefa Hallera 126 GDANSK See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ROBOSOFT France EU contribution No data Address Technopole Izarbel BIDART See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CARNIVAL PLC United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Carnival House, 5 Gainsford Street LONDON See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MOSCOW STATE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY Russia EU contribution No data Address Vadkovsky per. 3A MOSCOW See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ROYAL THAI NAVY Thailand EU contribution No data Address 204 Sukhumvit Road, Samut Prakarn BANGKOK See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data