The global ocean economy — everything from food and transportation to energy and telecommunications — is predicted to amount to $3 trillion by 2030, more than most countries’ GDP.
- And it will only grow as the world transitions to renewable energy sources, including offshore wind power, and more sustainable aquaculture — all of which will require more advanced deepwater technologies.
What’s happening: Houston-based Nauticus Robotics is pioneering the use of AI-equipped subsea robots for the U.S. military and offshore industries in the U.S., Brazil, Norway and the U.K.
Where it stands: Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have been used in the energy sector for decades, but building and maintaining underwater infrastructure is costly and carbon-intensive, according to Ross Doak, the head of deepwater robotics at oil and gas giant Shell.
- Just capturing a single image of a subsea pipeline requires a camera attached to a tethered ROV that is deployed by a crane mounted on a specialized vessel with a crew of about 60 people.
- Doak hopes more advanced robotics will lower the costs and CO2 footprint of such offshore operations.
Shell worked with a Brazilian partner, for example, to develop FlatFish, an autonomous underwater vehicle that recharges in a subsea docking station.
- Flatfish uses high-resolution 3D cameras to inspect pipelines and underwater infrastructure while collecting data from deepwater sensors.
What’s next: Nauticus’ maritime robots, which can hover, travel long distances, and pick up and place objects, promise even more versatility.
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