During the Phase 1, Nido Robotics has carried out a comparison of the Sibiu HCEV with the state-of-the-art solutions. In accordance with the research, Nido Robotics has defined the main characteristics that the Sibiu HCEV will have to accomplish in order to be more competitive than other current solutions. In general terms, these characteristics will be related to the following parameters: Weight, Thrust, Depth rating, Power Supply, Autonomous Mode and Payload capacity.
On the other hand, the research has allowed validate that there are commercial solutions in the market that allow user to perform marine inspections. Nevertheless, all of them have limitations that constrain their application range. In this context, the Sibiu HCEV opens a new category with an unparalleled performance-size ration and with a competitive Total Cost of Ownership. The cost reduction will allow increasing the frequency of the inspections, improving safety and efficiency of the user’s installations. Moreover, the possibility of running the vehicle autonomously will reduce the piloting time needed for surveys and underwater works. Furthermore, the following tasks will be possible thanks to the new Sibiu HCEV: (i) navigating autonomously in and around structures without a tether, preventing it from getting caught / tangled and damaging itself or the structure; (ii) running as a standard ROV with a wide variety of onboard sensors, cleaning systems and other payloads while providing live high bandwidth data to surface, for pilots, surveyors and other stakeholders to make real-time decisions; (iii) carrying out a set of programmed routes working as resident H-ROV (this will reduce significantly the need of surface support; (iv) automatic detection of faults in autonomous mode, changing to remotely operated mode for in-detail inspection of the affected area, or when a corrective action is needed; (v) once level 3 autonomy is reached, the H-ROV can be used to i.e survey an asset without a live connection to the surface. It can be programmed to return a base station upon completion of the task, or upon any internal non-nominal conditions arising or in any other way prevented safely completing the task.
