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Designing for Depth: Overcoming Engineering Challenges in Subsea Habitats

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As humanity ventures further into the oceans, the concept of living and working beneath the waves has evolved from science fiction to tangible reality.

Subsea habitats – pressurized structures that allow humans to live and conduct research underwater for extended periods – present unique engineering challenges that demand innovation across materials science, structural design, environmental control, and human factors.

Designing these habitats requires a multidisciplinary approach that can withstand immense pressure, guarantee safety, and enable long-term occupancy in one of the planet’s most hostile environments. [Read more…] about Designing for Depth: Overcoming Engineering Challenges in Subsea Habitats

Virginia Tech innovates underwater robotics with support from the Office of Naval Research

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It’s been said that we know more about the surface of the moon than the floor of Earth’s oceans. For more than two decades, Virginia Tech’s Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics has been developing robots that can find what lies beneath the sea surface with the support of the Office of Naval Research.

Bringing together faculty and students from the College of Engineering and the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, the center is developing advanced underwater robots and autonomy algorithms that enable them to operate intelligently without human oversight.

The research team recently was awarded two grants totaling more than $5 million to continue that mission. Two additional grant proposals, totaling about $2.4 million, have been selected by the agency and awards are in process. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech innovates underwater robotics with support from the Office of Naval Research

Sea Machines closes new investment round of $12 million

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Cleantech venture capital pioneer Emerald Technology Ventures has invested into Sea Machines, a developer of autonomous control systems and advanced perception technology for maritime vessels.

This $12 million funding round, which was joined by Nabtesco Technology Ventures (NTV), Chevron Technology Ventures, Ingram Industries, RKKVC, Level 2 Ventures, and IMC Ventures, will help Sea Machines hone its technological edge and grow its market presence. This adds to a financing in 2023 led by the Geekdom Fund.

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics is a global leader in autonomous piloting systems meant to help sea vessels navigate and operate with greater efficiency, productivity, and capability. [Read more…] about Sea Machines closes new investment round of $12 million

Italian port Livorno provides Comau exoskeletons to cargo handlers

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The logistics and cargo handling activities carried out in the port environment are largely managed manually by workers in order to ensure the required operational standards.

With the aim of making their employees’ tasks easier, more efficient and ergonomic, the Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Settentrionale (Port System Authority of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, AdSP MTS) and the Compagnia Portuale di Livorno (Livorno Port Company, CPL), together with IUVO, a spin-off company of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa), and Comau have conducted a pilot study – among the first carried out in Europe and in the world – for the adoption of wearable MATE-XT and MATE-XB exoskeletons designed by the 2 companies.

MATE-XT helps to reduce the muscle load of the upper limbs during static or repetitive activities, which require workers to keep their arms raised for extended periods of time, while MATE-XB relieves the muscle effort of the lumbar area when handling loads. [Read more…] about Italian port Livorno provides Comau exoskeletons to cargo handlers

Sarcos and VideoRay partner to offer integrated underwater robotic systems

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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

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

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

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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

Sea Machines Robotics to introduce computer vision to US Coast Guard critical missions

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Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of pioneering maritime autonomy and perception systems, has installed its new AI-ris computer vision product onboard a United States Coast Guard (USCG) 270’ Famous-class Medium Endurance Cutter ahead of the vessel’s upcoming deployment.

AI-ris uses artificial intelligence to identify and track visual targets of interest.

This installation was made possible under an ongoing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Sea Machines Robotics and the USCG Research and Development Center in an effort to evaluate how computer vision systems can be utilized for autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, and target detection. [Read more…] about Sea Machines Robotics to introduce computer vision to US Coast Guard critical missions

Sarcos demonstrates robotic technologies for shipyard operations

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Sarcos Technology and Robotics, a developer of highly dexterous exoskeletons and robotic systems that augment humans to enhance productivity and safety, says it has executed field trials demonstrating improved worker safety and productivity for shipyard operations.

Sarcos robotic systems are designed to carry out maintenance, inspection, and repair activities, on and around ships that are underway and pier side, creating safer and more effective shipyard operations and improving the efficiency of sailors and shipyard workers.

In September, the company completed a successful field trial for the US Navy at the Repair Technology Exercise (REPTX) at the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, California. [Read more…] about Sarcos demonstrates robotic technologies for shipyard operations

3 Things to Know When Transporting Your Robot

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We’re now on the pace of mechanical and AI technology advancement and development. A time when people use the help of a robot for a particular task.

Robots are now in demand for health care, agriculture, food preparation, manufacturing industries, and the military. There are even robotic pets now for common households. [Read more…] about 3 Things to Know When Transporting Your Robot