The Robot Report

  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Investments
    • Funding
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast

New sensors for underwater robots could benefit science, industry, say researchers

By The Robot Report Staff | April 19, 2020

Additional underwater robot sensors could benefit science and industry, say Australian researchers

Underwater robots can provide value to multiple sectors. Credit: National Oceanography Centre, U.K.

The oil and gas industry regularly uses underwater robots to inspect and maintain offshore structures. With additional sensors, these systems could also gather data for environmental science and resource management, concluded a study led by Australian researchers.

Scientists from around the world, led by Dianne McLean and Miles Parsons from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), have urged closer ties between industry and researchers to maximize the use of the underwater robots, known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

In a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, they identified a range of instruments that can be easily added to the craft, including cameras, audio recorders, and sample collectors.

The information gathered could significantly increase scientific and industry understanding of the impact of marine infrastructure, producing benefits for ecological management and regulatory compliance, they said.

“This is a real win-win,” stated Dr. McLean. “With some low-cost engineering and operational tweaks, industry and science can use ROVs to fuel new scientific discoveries. For instance, we could better understand the influence of structures such as platforms and pipelines in marine ecosystems — to the mutual benefit of the resource company and the environment.”

underwater robots arm

An ROV fitted with an arm for collecting marine samples. Source: AIMS

Study with underwater robots is extended

The new research follows an earlier study that used adapted underwater robots to examine fish populations around a platform on the North West Shelf, 138km (85.7 mi.) offshore from Dampier, Australia.

Next month, the AIMS team is set to extend the study, working with Santos Ltd. to use ROVs to survey marine life around shallow water platform jackets.

The craft are routinely used to inspect thousands of industrial subsea structures around the world each year. They operate in shallow water, and at depths down to 3,000m (9,842.5 ft.).

McLean, a fish ecologist and specialist in underwater video systems, and Parsons, an acoustics expert, teamed up with colleagues in Australia, the U.S., England, and Scotland to identify feasible, cost-effective ways in which standard work-class ROVs could be adapted to expand their data-gathering capabilities.

Underwater robots with arm, sensors

An Oceaneering Magnum ROV holding a time-lapse camera (right) in a five-function arm. Source: AIMS

These include the addition of extra sensors, cameras, acoustic transmitters and receivers, and sample collection devices.

“By partnering with experienced research scientists, industry can improve the quality of its ROV-derived data,” said Parsons.

Small sensor enhancements, big benefits from cooperation

McLean said that the extra information, and the spirit of cooperation through which it was gathered, could be particularly useful when it came to complex engineering and environmental management challenges such as decommissioning large structures at the end of their working lives.

“From an industry point of view,” she said, “these small additions to ROVs and their use for scientific surveys has the potential not only to improve environmental management, but also to facilitate more informed engagement with external stakeholders such as regulators and the public.”

The research shows that small enhancements to the vehicles and how they are used now could provide substantial benefits to science and to resource companies in the long term.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

kraken robotics 13 robots
Kraken Robotics acquires 13 Robotics Ltda
CMU Snakebot
CMU’s snake robot can now swim underwater
Teledyne acquiring FLIR for $8B in major merger
Robots to dive deep in CSIRO study of how Southern Ocean life captures carbon
Robots to dive deep in CSIRO study of how Southern Ocean life captures carbon

End-of-Arm Tooling Issue

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Ken Goldberg on robotic grasping; Carbon Robotics’ new weeding robot

The Robot Report Podcast · Ken Goldberg on robotic grasping; Carbon Robotics’ new weeding robot

Sponsored Content

  • Why field-of-view matters
  • FORT Robotics Podcast: FORT Robotics on how to keep humans safe and in control of robots
  • IES servo control gripper
  • How to cut the cost of manufacturing
  • Analytics: Robotics’ untapped vein of business value

Tweets by RoboticTips

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search The Robot Report

  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Investments
    • Funding
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast