Objective
Aim is to improve and finalize the existing innovatory key robotic technologies and to integrate them with an existing suitable ROV in order to form an advanced underwater telerobot finalized to efficiently replace divers in performing a large spread of underwater complex industrial tasks related to the offshore industry and, in particular, to the installation, inspection maintenance/repair of deep subsea production systems.
The system technical/economical validity will be demonstrated by extensive trials in protected waters and at sea.
Project will produce 3 functional prototypes: A1, A2, A3. Most of the design resources will be set up for developing A1; A2 will gain value based on A1 offshore testing operational feedback most on operational functionalities/robustness. A3 is physically based on A1 hardware returned back to lab as soon as A2 will be sent for offshore testing, A1 will be upgraded to A2 and further value will be added based upon A2 offshore testing operational feedback.
1) Innovative technology : innovative technologies included and tested in the project are related to the typical advanced telerobotic scenario: manipulator control, world modelling and telepresence, properly integrated within the supervisory control paradigm; additionally the basic goal of the overall project is to devise a SYSTEM SOLUTION to the diverless underwater interventions; such a concept is to be considered innovative in itself, because diverless intervention is presently taylored around very specific operating issues so that the final result, even if successful, cannot in principle be used in applications which differ from the ones that they have been designed for.
2) context in which the technology is operating : such an integration of the proposed technologies has never been attempted in diverless underwater projects; some kind of development is presently underway in R&D laboratories working in space industry (such as JPL or Martin Marietta in USA).
The current practice within oil industry is mostly relying on the use of divers.
3) economic aspects of the technology : replacing divers in risky underwater activities will result in both human life and cost savings; additionally higher efficiency in performing complex underwater tasks is expected.
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
SAN DONATO MILANESE
Italy