Robotics & Automation News

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

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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

Fugro provides uncrewed surface vessel to TAQA

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Fugro has completed its first fully remote offshore survey inspection in the European North Sea for energy company TAQA using one of its Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessels (USV) with Blue Volta electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV).

The complex project, in Europe’s busiest part of the North Sea, involved the inspection of two platforms and over 40 kilometres of pipeline off the coast of the Netherlands.

The inspection investigated the mobility of the seabed, pipeline depth measurements, visual inspections and cathodic protection measurements within the 500-metre zone to ensure the integrity of TAQA’s assets. [Read more…] about Fugro provides uncrewed surface vessel to TAQA

Blue Robotics wins award from Society of Underwater Technology

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The Society for Underwater Technology’s Gwyn Griffiths Award for Underwater Robotics has been won by Rustom (Rusty) Jehangir, founder and CEO of Blue Robotics, an ocean technology company based in Torrance, California.

Neil Bose, chair of SUT’s Underwater Robotics Panel, and vice president (research), Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador’s University, says: “The standard of entries for the SUT’s Gwyn Griffiths Award for Underwater Robotics was extremely competitive this year, and the nominees of high calibre, which challenged the judges to select this year’s winner.

“On behalf of the Panel, the judges and SUT, we would like to recognise the talent, innovation, and qualities of all the entrants working in underwater robotics.” [Read more…] about Blue Robotics wins award from Society of Underwater Technology

Dual Extruder 3D Printing Advantages How to Use

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A dual extruder allows people to print things in two colors, and it helps to make the printing process a little faster, or perhaps a little more efficient, and as yet may prove to offer a broader range of printing options as we advance the technology behind 3D printing.  [Read more…] about Dual Extruder 3D Printing Advantages How to Use

Fugro expands its autonomous vessel fleet for geophysical surveys

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Fugro has signed a contract with Kooiman Engineering and Van Oossanen Naval Architects for the naval design of Blue Prism, Fugro’s next generation of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).

Specifically engineered for operations in both coastal and offshore environments, the Blue Prism will combine an ultra-low carbon footprint with high quality data collection, weather resilience and endurance characteristics.

Available to clients in 2023, Fugro’s Blue Prism will acquire bathymetry and sub-bottom data of the highest accuracy using hull mounted sensors, whilst also having the ability to tow multiple geophysical sensors. [Read more…] about Fugro expands its autonomous vessel fleet for geophysical surveys

Amazon boss Bezos’s Blue Origin to buy asteroid mining company Honeybee Robotics

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Amazon owner Jeff Bezos’s aerospace company Blue Origin is to acquire a robotic asteroid mining startup called Honeybee Robotics.

Honeybee Robotics has operations in Longmont, Colorado and Altadena, California, and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Origin, headquartered in Kent, Washington.

The deal between Honeybee’s parent organization, Ensign-Bickford Industries, and Blue Origin is expected to close in mid-February. [Read more…] about Amazon boss Bezos’s Blue Origin to buy asteroid mining company Honeybee Robotics

AP Møller makes $51 million investment in Blue Ocean Robotics ahead of global launch of mobile robotics solutions

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By Malene Grouleff

AP Møller has made an investment of $51 million in partnership with Blue Ocean Robotics ahead of the global launch of a range of mobile robotics solutions. AP Møller is the investment arm of the shipping company which usually goes by the name AP Møller Maersk.

In a world with increasing labour shortages and a growing ageing population, demand for service robots that can assist companies and institutions is growing.

This is why Blue Ocean Robotics, Europe’s largest manufacturer of service robots, has now strengthened its financial muscle, enabling the company to roll out its sustainable mobile robot solutions all over the world.

Service robots are part of the solution when productivity needs to be increased in the labour market. At the same time, the working environment can be improved, and the quality of the delivered service can reach a higher level. [Read more…] about AP Møller makes $51 million investment in Blue Ocean Robotics ahead of global launch of mobile robotics solutions

Fugro launches its new generation of uncrewed surface vessels in the Netherlands

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Fugro’s Blue Essence, an offshore certified uncrewed surface vessel (USV) with an electric remotely operated vehicle (eROV), will begin its first project in the Netherlands. 

During operations the vessel is controlled from an onshore remote operations centre (ROC) via a satellite connection and will be used for the inspection of offshore assets, construction support services, and hydrographic and geophysical surveys.

USVs play an important role in the future of the maritime sector by improving safety, reducing carbon emissions, and delivering data more efficiently. [Read more…] about Fugro launches its new generation of uncrewed surface vessels in the Netherlands

Robotic 3D printed gradient furniture collection by Philipp Aduatz

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Incremental3d has teamed up with designer Philipp Aduatz to create a range of furniture made from concrete built by a robotic system.

The 3D printed gradient furniture collection is Philipp Aduatz’s latest project in the field of 3D concrete printing in collaboration with the Austrian manufacturer incremental3d.

3D concrete printing is a new and innovative fabrication technology that allows to print very large and complex structures in construction and design in a very short time period. [Read more…] about Robotic 3D printed gradient furniture collection by Philipp Aduatz

Seegrid creates ‘Blue Labs’ research and development group

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Seegrid, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for material handling, has established something it calls “Blue Labs”, a research and development group to further the company’s technical progress.

With an in-house team of innovators in mobile automation building upon Seegrid’s proprietary, artificial intelligence technologies, the company will accelerate its expanding footprint throughout the manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics sectors it serves.

This year the company has launched multiple new automated workflows for its fleet of Palion AMRs along with a cloud-based data analytics platform, and has been heavily focused on faster development of new products and rapid expansion of its product offering. [Read more…] about Seegrid creates ‘Blue Labs’ research and development group