SEATTLE — Olis Robotics, formerly known as BluHaptics Inc., recently demonstrated a new digital workspace for a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) during recent live tank trials. The machine learning software company partnered with global subsea product distributor Forum Energy Technologies and successfully demonstrated how its simplified 3D workspace can offer improved precision and safety for ROV operations.

“For the first time, planning and execution of ROV missions can occur in real time with Olis Robotics software,” stated Don Pickering, CEO of Olis Robotics. “Our solution saves time and money by upgrading legacy 1990s analog systems with machine learning software that’s currently also in used by NASA programs for controlling robotics destined for the moon.”

Olis Robotics was founded in 2013 as a spinout from the Applied Physics Lab and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments at the University of Washington. The company claimed that its software expands the capabilities of remotely controlled robots in dynamic environments in the field, undersea, and in outer space.

Houston-based Forum Energy Technologies is a global company serving the drilling, downhole, subsea, completions and production sectors of the oil and natural gas industry. The company’s products include highly engineered capital equipment, as well as products that are consumed in drilling, production, and transportation.

Olis Robotics offers ROV precision

Olis Robotics said its demonstration with Forum Energy Technologies included 3D models of manipulation targets, target tracking, and precision manipulator motion compensation “to enable more accurate control, safer, and more efficient execution of subsea tasks.” Olis plans to release a Digital Workspace product incorporated into its Olis Master Control (OMC) by the end of the second quarter of 2020.

Forum supported the demonstration at its test facilities in Kirkbymoorside, U.K., using a XLX-C work-class ROV with a hydraulic manipulator operating on targets in a test tank.

“Forum was pleased to offer our facilities for such an important demonstration,” said Kevin Taylor, vice president of subsea vehicles at Forum. “The facilities that we have at KMS are second to none, with one of the largest internal test pools in the country. Coupled with full availability of pressure-testing vessels, this makes our facility the obvious choice. Having a 200HP XLX available prior to client shipment enabled the testing to be as realistic as possible to gain maximum benefit.”

Olis Robotics said it will continue to work with Forum Energy Technologies and is seeking additional high-value trial partners.

The OMC is currently available globally through Olis’ sales partnership with Forum and is compatible with future Digital Workspace technology. Olis said its OMC “is designed to enable both local and remote control of robotic manipulators to satisfy immediate operational requirements as well as help the industry build capabilities for the remote and resident systems of the future.”