Marine-i, the EU funded program set up to boost marine innovation in Cornwall, awarded Submarine Technology Ltd (STL), a specialist marine technology company, with a grant to proceed with the construction of a futuristic robotic arm. The arm is a ship-based multi-axis robotic arm for autonomous operations.
Specifically, the arm will form a fundamental part of the new Autonomous Synchronized Stabilised Platform (ASSP), enabling intervention tasks that will be conducted by Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV).
According to Marine-i, usual intervention tasks consist of equipment transfer and payload management, survey and inspection, launch and recovery.
In addition, ASVs will play a crucial role in the inspection, servicing and repair of offshore wind farms and other renewable energy technologies.
STL’s Managing Director, David Kirkley, stated
We already have a system to transfer people or equipment from a dynamic platform to a fixed platform. The ASSP is more complicated as it requires synchronous stabilization between two moving platforms, for instance between an autonomous vessel and a floating wind turbine or wave-energy converter.
STL is partnering with Marine-i partner, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
The Sector Lead on Wave and Tidal Energy, Simon Cheeseman commented on the project that it is a great opportunity for Cornwall to be leading this new field in marine technology.
The safe and reliable transfer of cargo between autonomous ships and moving platforms and other intervention tasks will be critical in supporting operations in the offshore wind farm industry.
Finally, he highlighted that the innovation has the potential to reach a massive worldwide market.
