Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Marine

Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract extension

by Leave a Comment

Nauticus Robotics, a developer of autonomous robots using artificial intelligence for data collection and intervention services for the ocean industries, has been awarded an additional $2.1 million under its current contract with Leidos, a science and technology company.

The additional funding augments the earlier award and this program has received $16.6 million in funding from Leidos since 2022. The technology developed is expected to underpin future, economically material opportunities. [Read more…] about Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract extension

Sailing seas of data: Autonomous Saildrone vessel to study Earth’s oceans, weather and marine life

by Leave a Comment

A startup company called Saildrone says its uncrewed vehicles are helping to study Earth’s weather, marine life, the ocean floor and much more.

The startup’s nautical data collection technology has tracked hurricanes up close in the North Atlantic, discovered a 3,200-foot underwater mountain in the Pacific Ocean and begun to help map the entirety of the world’s ocean floor.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company develops autonomous uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) that carry a wide range of sensors. [Read more…] about Sailing seas of data: Autonomous Saildrone vessel to study Earth’s oceans, weather and marine life

Nauticus to supply Aquanaut to Petrobras Brazil

by Leave a Comment

Nauticus Robotics, a developer of autonomous robots using artificial intelligence for data collection and intervention services for the ocean industries, has been awarded a contract with Petrobras, one of the world’s largest energy companies, to deploy Aquanaut, the company’s autonomous subsea robot, to support Petrobras’ offshore activities.

Petrobras has ramped up efforts recently in robotics and artificial intelligence and is pioneering their application to the offshore sectors.

Toward that end, this relevant contract was competitively awarded to Nauticus and will utilize Aquanaut in Petrobras’ Deepwater Production Field using supervised autonomy for infield inspection services. [Read more…] about Nauticus to supply Aquanaut to Petrobras Brazil

Advanced Navigation to debut its underwater robot’s docking capability at ICRA

by Leave a Comment

Advanced Navigation, the world’s most determined innovator in AI robotics and navigation technology, will debut the underwater docking capability of its micro autonomous underwater vehicle, Hydrus at ICRA 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

The exclusive preview will see Advanced Navigation bring two revolutionary technologies to the forefront of United Kingdom’s thriving AI and robotics market:

Award-winning micro autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), Hydrus: aimed to revolutionise undersea inspection, detection and classification by making data capture simple and accessible, for research, aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, transportation, surveillance, biotechnology and high-tech services. [Read more…] about Advanced Navigation to debut its underwater robot’s docking capability at ICRA

Nauticus Robotics and Leidos agree $2.7 million contract extension

by Leave a Comment

Nauticus Robotics, a developer of autonomous robots using artificial intelligence for data collection and intervention services for the ocean economies, has been awarded an additional $2.7 million under its current contract with Leidos, science and technology company.

The funded a extension allows continued development of an Aquanaut-derivative in preparation for customer adoption decisions and government opportunities expected later this year.

The state-of-the-art subsea platform, an unmanned underwater vehicle (“UUV”) with advanced artificial intelligence, sensing capabilities, and more can perform a growing number of jobs without hazarding human divers. [Read more…] about Nauticus Robotics and Leidos agree $2.7 million contract extension

Sarcos and VideoRay partner to offer integrated underwater robotic systems

by Leave a Comment

Sarcos Technology and Robotics, a maker of advanced robotic systems, and VideoRay, a manufacturer of underwater robotic systems, have signed an agreement to offer integrated underwater robotic systems combining VideoRay remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) with the Sarcos Guardian Sea Class robotic system including its power-efficient dexterous arms.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sarcos and VideoRay will each be able to sell an integrated underwater robotic system, as well as their respective individual products, and provide replacement parts and repair services and support.

Kiva Allgood, president and CEO, Sarcos, says: “This collaboration is significant for the industry as it will enable Sarcos and VideoRay customers to easily purchase a pre-integrated system combining VideoRay’s best-in-class remotely operated vehicles with our advanced one- or two-armed Sea Class system. [Read more…] about Sarcos and VideoRay partner to offer integrated underwater robotic systems

QYSEA releases new ‘compact and highly capable’ underwater drone

by Leave a Comment

QYSEA Technology has released its latest “compact and highly capable” underwater drone, FIFISH V-EVO.

The new drone is claimed to be “the first underwater drone to feature a 4K 60 FPS camera with 360-degree omnidirectional movement”, allowing filmmakers and explorers to capture increased detail and smooth slow-motion videos in ultra-high definition, as deep as 100 meters below the surface.

The rapidly growing market for compact underwater drones is being “revolutionized” by QYSEA, according to the company, which manufactures small remotely-operated underwater machines. [Read more…] about QYSEA releases new ‘compact and highly capable’ underwater drone

Fugro’s marine robot completes ‘world’s first’ fully remote offshore wind ROV inspection

by Leave a Comment

What is being described as “the world’s first” fully remote inspection of offshore wind farm assets has been successfully carried out by Fugro, using one of its Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) with Blue Volta, an electrical remotely operated vehicle (eROV).

The inspection at the Aberdeen offshore wind farm in the North Sea (also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre) was jointly funded by Vattenfall and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

This partnership gives innovators in the offshore wind supply chain the opportunity to test and prove technologies in real-world conditions to support innovation in operations and maintenance. [Read more…] about Fugro’s marine robot completes ‘world’s first’ fully remote offshore wind ROV inspection

Zelim selects Sea Machines’ marine robots for unmanned search and rescue vessel

by Leave a Comment

Scottish Search and Rescue (SAR) technology innovator Zelim has developed the Guardian class of fast rescue craft, controlled by Sea Machines Robotics’ SM300 maritime autonomy, enabling unmanned operation of the vessel employing Zelim’s casualty detection and recovery process.

The 8.5-meter Guardian includes Sea Machines SM300 remote command and control product, making it the world’s first rescue vessel capable of uncrewed operation.

The SM300 hardware integrates with the Guardian’s propulsion system and sensors, enabling vessel control while streaming real time situational awareness and Casualty Detection to a remote command center anywhere in the world. [Read more…] about Zelim selects Sea Machines’ marine robots for unmanned search and rescue vessel

Fugro marine robots locate World War II ship 80 years after tragic sinking

by Leave a Comment

In an extraordinary mission that took nearly five years of planning, Fugro has played a key role in locating the wreck of the Montevideo Maru, one of the worst international maritime disasters in history.

In close partnership with the Silentworld Foundation and the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society, and support from Australia’s Department of Defence, Fugro used their unparalleled deepwater hydrographic and oceanographic expertise to successfully identify the wreckage of the Japanese transport ship at a depth of more than 4,000 metres off the coast of the Philippines.

The Montevideo Maru was carrying approximately 1060 prisoners of war and civilians when it was sunk by an American submarine in 1942 during World War II. [Read more…] about Fugro marine robots locate World War II ship 80 years after tragic sinking