An Innovate UK-funded initiative aiming to enhance the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of offshore wind operations has partnered with robotics software company BOW.
The O.S.I.R.I.S project is aiming to deliver a fully autonomous inspection system by 2027 through the deployment of aerial drones and underwater vehicles.
The project has already established partnerships with ORE Catapult and ACUA Ocean and now Sheffield-based BOW’s universal robotics software platform will be integrated with The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s Synthetic Test and Unified Demonstration System (STUDS) simulation environment.
The firms say that this will allow for seamless testing, validation and coordination of diverse robotic models and systems before real-world deployment.
BOW was selected as part of this project as it removes a primary robotics bottleneck for critical industries, allowing developers and manufacturers to create, simulate and deploy applications for various robot models using the programming language and operating system of their choice.
“This Innovate UK feasibility and viability project represents a significant step towards autonomous, zero-emission offshore operations,” said Mike Tinmouth, co-founder of ACUA Ocean.
“Our hydrogen-powered unmanned surface vessel (USV Pioneer) will serve as the central hub for deploying and managing robotic inspections, reducing the need for at-risk crewed vessels and cutting operational emissions.
“By collaborating with BOW and ORE Catapult, we are not only enhancing efficiency and safety in offshore wind maintenance but also paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in maritime industries following the project’s completion.”
Nick Thompson, co-founder and CEO of BOW, added: “The UK is one of the world leaders in offshore wind, accounting for 18 percent of global offshore wind capacity.
“Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband has set an ambitious target to quadruple the UK’s offshore wind capacity by 2030 as part of its Net Zero plan.
“Our mission is to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative robotic solutions.
“BOW’s participation in this Innovate UK project with ORE Catapult and ACUA Ocean is enhancing the simulation of robotics deployments for offshore renewable energy, leading to more robust, reliable and cost-efficient deployments, and further accelerating the path to a Net Zero energy sector.”