Nauticus Robotics launches autonomous, intelligent robotic navy fleet for offshore marine industry
(WO) - Nauticus Robotics Inc., a Houston-area developer of subsea and surface robotic services using autonomy software, announced the initial production run of Nauticus Fleet, a robotic navy of 20 Hydronaut - Aquanaut pairs.
Autonomous, intelligent robotic navy fleet
Nauticus Fleet uses 21st-century ocean robotic technologies to combat climate change and the global impact on the world’s marine environment. The cooperative pairing of both surface and subsea robots is enabled by ToolKITT, Nauticus’ autonomous software platform that affords robust machine intelligence in addition to just automation.
The Hydronaut-Aquanaut pairs will deploy in multiple offshore industries serving applications ranging from subsea maintenance and intervention to data collection activities. These first sets of robots will arrive in Q4 2022, with the remainder coming by the end of 2024.
According to the company, this technology will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90%. Nauticus Fleet will also reduce operational costs by more than 50%, along with a 90% reduction in offshore personnel.
Nauticus is planning regional operations within the Gulf of Mexico, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. These regional bases will provide local subject matter expertise and logistics to maintain the highest quality of services. Eventually, Nauticus plans to have operational bases around the world, strategically located and equipped with local remote operation centers and service teams.
Autonomous surface vessel technology
The surface aspect of the fleet is Hydronaut. This 18-meter optionally crewed autonomous surface vessel (ASV) supports the launch, recovery and real-time operations of Aquanaut, its undersea robotic counterpart. Hydronaut ferries Aquanaut to and from the worksite.
It also supports battery recharges and the communications link from the local remote operations center for supervised autonomous operations. Additional technical and operational support can be provided from Nauticus’ Houston-based global remote operations center.
Subsea robotics technology
Aquanaut is a fully electric, free-swimming subsea robot, controlled through acoustic communication networking. It can perform various data collection, inspection, and manipulation tasks. Aquanaut’s defining capability is operating in two separate modes: actively transforming itself between the excursion and intervention configurations.
Excursion mode involves the usage of data collection and perception sensors during transit; intervention mode uses two electric work-class manipulators (Nauticus’ Olympic Arms) to perform work in the subsea environment.
