Ocean geophysical exploration
Robotics and Autonomous Solutions
Robotics and Autonomous Solutions
Utilization of robotics in marine survey and offshore industry is being needed more than ever before due to the required work both quantitatively and qualitatively, safety for personnel, and for efficient and predictable project management. Based on our wealth of knowledge and experience in marine geophysical survey, we are committed to build solutions utilizing robotics and realize autonomous operation in these industries and further strengthen our range of services.
With our key partners globally, we keep innovating our solutions and strive to provide the best for our clients, industries, and further contribute to the sustainable society.
SeaCAT USV
Subsea Tech
Multi drone system
An unmanned surface vehicle that can navigate autonomously for up to eight days
The SeaCAT USV (SeaCat Unmanned Surface Vehicle) is a catamaran-type unmanned surface vehicle equipped with an excellent autonomous navigation and collision avoidance system, capable of early detection of collision risks on or near the water surface, automatic avoidance, and course change and return to normal.
It can be transported overland using a 4-ton truck or a 20-ft container, and is a groundbreaking marine survey platform that is not only equipped with many marine survey sensors (MBES, SSS, SBP, ADCP, etc.), but also has the ability to launch and retrieve small underwater drones and take off and land aerial drones.
This vessel will enable observations at Sea State 4 and is powered by a small diesel generator that can operate for up to eight days. It can flexibly accommodate a range of operations, from multi-purpose surveys conducted independently to simultaneous cooperative operations with general manned research vessel, and will contribute to seabed topography and geological surveys, oceanographic and meteorological observations, and O&M inspections in areas surrounding offshore wind farm facilities.
Subsea Tech is participating in Sea Clear, an EU Horizon 2020 supported project, to use autonomous robotics to map, identify and remove marine litter.
Bluebottle™ USV
Ocius Technologies
Long-term Unmanned Survey Vessel
Class : Bathy , Beth
Hybrid power generation using wind, wave and solar power makes long-term marine research possible
The Bluebottle™ USV (Bluebottle Unmanned Surface Vehicle) is an innovative autonomous solution that has a large payload capacity that can supply sufficient power, and enables wide-range navigation and continuous ocean surveys for several months. It is an excellent system that brings innovation to the cost and operation aspects of conventional manned surveys in various ocean survey applications.
The main class are Bathy and Beth, both of which can autonomously survey a designated area for a long period of time using wind, wave and solar power. They can also observe in Sea State 5, and can store their sails in storms or strong headwinds to enable continuous observation and operation.
The latest design of the Bathy class is equipped with a 5kW diesel generator, which is rare for a sailing USV, and can supply a maximum of 4kW/average 850W (30 days continuous) of power to the payload observation equipment. This abundant power allows it to be equipped with not only a multi-beam echo sounder, which is essential for coastal bathymetry, but also a geological exploration sonar, which is necessary for pre-surveying offshore wind farm sites. It can also be equipped with a scientific fish finder and weather observation sensors, which together enable long-term observation at sea for one to several months or more.
XOcean XO-450
XOcean
Worldwide Unmanned Survey Vessel
Proven ocean surveying with around the globe experience
The XO-450 USV is a catamaran-type unmanned surface vehicle with numerous characteristics that make it a good choice for surveying quickly and efficiently. With easy transportation overland via truck or container, the XO-450 USV can provide numerous different data sets including, but not limited to, Multibeam Echosounder (MBES), Sub-Bottom Profiler (SBP), Side-Scan Sonar (SSS), Magnetometer (MAG), and Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL).
While the vessel can provide a wide range of data, XOcean operates the vessels remotely, providing round-the-clock performance as well as local, on the ground technical assistance. This enables surveys not limited by daytime constraints as well as immediate support for the vessel. For operations in Japan, drone operations must be conducted from the site. In compliance with this, we at RAS are the regional masters for the USVs during Japanese operations.
We at RAS are happy to provide support for XOcean for their blossoming operations in Japan and can assist with any inquiries.
Kraken Robotics Inc.
Acoustic Corer (AC), Sub-Bottom Imager (SBI)
Accurate 3D visualization of geological and ground risk before offshore construction.
In construction phase of offshore project, minimizing the risk to cause delay is critical for the overall project cost. General derisking approach is to perform 2D high-resolution seismic survey, CPT/SPT, and physical ground sampling to evaluate the geotechnical properties and identify any geohazard, but the resolution and coverage still does not cover the entire footprint of the construction area. Kraken Robotics's acoustic sub-seabed interrogation technology can fill the gap exists in these technologies and thus minimize the existing risk.
Acoustic Corer (AC) is an advanced acoustic beamforming techniques to produce an accurate 3D acoustic volume below the seabed, approximately 14m wide, and 40-60m deep, to mitigate risk at foundation locations for offshore installations such as wind turbines or oil/gas platforms. AC provide 3D map of stratigraphic layers, and detect geohazards such as boulders >0.2m diameter and gaseous soil layers.
The data can be utilized also to correlate existing geotechnical data and extrapolate properties across foundation footprints.
Sub-Bottom Imager (SBI) uses advanced acoustics to provide a real-time view of the sub-seabed in full 3D in a continuous longitudinal path 5m wide by 5-8m depth of subsea penetration. The SBI integrates with industry standard survey software to delineate discrete objects, stratigraphy and geohazards with decimeter resolution. The SBI can be operated from a surface vessel for shallow water, or from WROV for deep water.
SBI can be utilized to identify boulders and other submerged items along pipeline/cable route, and for As-Laid/As-Built survey, integrity survey to map and measure burial of cable, The survey of the cable can be performed without interrupting power transmission.