BG Group & the FlatFish AUV
The prototype, currently in sea trials, is being developed to carry out 3D visual inspections in high resolution of subsea pipelines and infrastructure. “Bremen, Germany based DFKI, our partner in the FlatFish project, had a key role in the development of the AUV. As a global reference for artificial intelligence and robotics, they were responsible for training and developing the technical capability for the Brazilian researches involved in the project. A partnership between SENAI-Cimatec and DFKI resulted in the creation of the Brazilian Institute of Robotics (BIR), which has FlatFish as its first
Deep Ocean Exploration is the 21st Century ‘Space Race’
has shown us to be a resourceful species, always using the tools available to us to explore, understand and utilize the bounty of resources around us to create a better life. We have come a long way from the stone tools of our ancestors; the tools of today take the form of technology, computers, artificial intelligence and robots which we use very effectively in a number of areas including healthcare, education, transportation, manufacturing and communication. Many of these advances have been made possible by government leadership that spurs innovation, healthy competition and, ultimately, economic prosperity
Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Semifinalists Announced
XPRIZE, a three-year global competition challenging teams to advance ocean technologies for rapid, unmanned and high-resolution ocean exploration and discovery. Their innovative approaches run the gamut: gliders and drones, underwater robotic swarms, autonomous underwater vehicles, robotics, artificial intelligence and massive computing platforms. From a 25-country field, a panel of independent expert judges chose the semi-finalist teams who will move forward into the first round of testing. Semi-finalist team leads hail from Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Japan, New Zealand
ThunderFish AUV Program Gets $745,000 Boost
(RDC) of Newfoundland and Labrador to support development of its ThunderFish autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) program. The ThunderFish program will combine smart sonar, laser and optical sensors, advanced pressure tolerant battery and thruster technologies and cutting edge artificial intelligence algorithms integrated onboard a cost effective 6,000 meter depth rated AUV. Karl Kenny, President and CEO of Kraken said, “We are very grateful to RDC for their support of our efforts and appreciate their thorough review of our development program. This funding will help maintain
New Hires Join Kraken Robotik
being employed for six years as researcher in robotics at FZI in Karlsruhe, Germany, Albiez received his PhD from the University of Karlsruhe in 2007 for his work on biologically inspired walking machines. He then worked at the underwater robotic branch of DFKI (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence) in Bremen. DFKI is one of the world's largest nonprofit research institutes for artificial intelligence. In 2014, Jan moved to SENAI CIMATEC in Salvador, Brazil where he served as technical leader on the BG/Shell FlatFish AUV project and trained a 20-person robotics team. Dr
Marine Technology Reporter - September 2017 Edition
The September 2017 edition of Marine Technology Reporter is now available – in print, and online. This edition includes features on: Ocean observation: robotics and artificial intelligence pave the path forward. Research vessels: update on the new fleet currently under construction Voices: Marty Klein, the 'father of side scan sonar'; and Frank Cobis, vice president and general manager of Klein Marine Systems Seafloor engineering: the mapping-while-drilling evolution Port insights: Digital transformation of port operations
Marine Robots Take Center Stage
The use of robotics and artificial intelligence in marine technology will be the theme of Marine-i’s next Discovery Room event. This free event will take place on Wednesday November 22 at Tremough Innovation Center, Penryn. Marine-i is an EU-funded scheme that provides support for the marine technology sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Its Discovery Room events are designed to draw together the latest thinking and expertise on a specific theme of marine technology, delivered in a series of short presentations and followed up by interactive workshops and Q&A sessions.
Partners to Advance Subsea Robotic Inspection
A first-of-its-kind integration of artificial intelligence, autonomous underwater vehicles, laser sensors and 3D imaging aims to advance inspection services for the oil and gas industry. Kraken Robotics Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Kraken Robotic Systems Inc., has partnered with GE Venture Avitas Systems to integrate autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), acoustic and laser sensor technology and artificial intelligence-based navigation software into unique subsea inspection solutions for the oil and gas, offshore renewable energy and shipping industries. The announcement was
Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Testing Altered
scientists and engineers. Representing 13 countries across five continents, the Ocean Discovery XPRIZE semifinalist teams’ innovative approaches involve unique, hybrid systems that mobilize gliders and drones, underwater robotic swarms, autonomous underwater vehicles, robotics, artificial intelligence and massive computing platforms. Once launched, these robots and vehicles use artificial intelligence to navigate and explore, gathering underwater data for retrieval following each mission. “Round 1 testing for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE takes us a step closer toward
When It Comes to Inspiring Innovation, 'X' Marks the Spot
substantial potential impact on changing our lives for the better. As technology gets faster, cheaper and smaller, a single individual can have access to things today that only the biggest governments had access to in the past. We are seeing exponential advances in sensor technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, synthetic biology, virtual reality, 3D printing to name a few. Collectively, we are poised to be able to address some of the greatest challenges we face through these advances in technology. In keeping with innovations in other fields, marine technology has also been evolving
Rovco Secures Funding for 3D Visualization Project
Subsea technology company Rovco said it has secured Innovate UK funding to develop a cutting-edge 3D visualization system as part of a two-part Artificial Intelligence demonstrator project potentially worth £1 million. Working in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the first phase of the project will see Rovco develop the equipment and software required to produce live 3D data from challenging and extreme subsea environments. The technology will be trialed and tested at ORE Catapult’s renewable energy test facility in Blyth. Phase two will
Delving Deeper with AUVs
of oil and gas applications including pipeline leak detection, oil spill response, decommissioning studies, dredge/construction plume monitoring, environmental monitoring and metocean studies. Over time gliders have become more and more autonomous with less human interaction required as artificial intelligence has advanced. To meet the long-term needs of the subsea industry, current developments are focused on increasing battery life, improving autonomous functions and enhancing sensor capabilities so they can perform increasingly challenging intervention tasks. This
NOC Workshops to Address Robotics Challenges
A program launched by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), ‘A Year of Autonomy’, will offer five workshops to address the common challenges faced by robotic systems on land, sea and air by encouraging shared learning and collaboration. These challenges include; the development of artificial intelligence, societal acceptance and energy management. This initiative is part of the South Coast Marine Cluster and aims to help the autonomous systems industries in this region to grow and position the South Coast as a hub for innovative, high value companies. Speaking
Acteon, Arundo Analytics to Boost Subsea Efficiency
their engineering and cost challenges–both current and future–by providing efficiency-driven solutions. This partnership with Arundo will enable both companies to develop high-value analytics for operating companies supporting global customers through tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence to reduce the cost asset of ownership by 30 percent. “We have a range of service lines focused on data capture and interpretation across all stages of the field life cycle,” said Paul Alcock, EVP of Acteon. “The aim of this partnership with Arundo is to align our
Kraken Establishes German Subsidiary
to Kraken, the move to expand operations into Germany corresponds to strong growth in the region where the company has an increasing base of customers and strategic partners. In addition to customer support, KRG will focus on the development of 3D imaging sensors, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for underwater robotic platforms. Machine learning is a type of AI that provides robots with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning focuses on the development of software that can teach robotic platforms to be cognitive and adaptive when
Partners Set Out to Drive Subsea Digitalization
us to uncover the many future benefits of digitalization throughout the life of the field,” said Steve Wisely, Senior Vice President, i-Tech Services. “We look forward to collaborating with Leidos to deliver a technology development plan that utilizes big data, digitalization and artificial intelligence to allow clients to harvest greater insight for early decision making ensuring focused and cost effective management of the field by reducing OPEX.”“The partnership has already identified and initiated the first two development phases, which will see a focus on data acquisition
Offshore: Nippon Foundation, Deepstar Sign MOU
shores of Japan. "At the same time we do not have the means or the technology to extract those resouces. This capability is something that Japan will have to acquire as soon as possible to leverage those available resources." While Japan is a technology leader in robotics and artificial intelligence, the same cannot be said for its offshore energy business. The plan is for the Deepstar relationship to facilitate intelligence transfer for Japan's next generation. DeepStar is a joint industry technology development project focused on advancing the technologies to meet its members'
