Eelume: The Next Evolution in Underwater Robotics Richard Mills Director of Sales Marine Robotics Kongsberg Maritime AS
A brief history of Marine Robotics First controlled underwater vehicle developed in 1864 Military applications came first Whitehead modified the Luppis design to make a controlled torpedo Saw operational use with European navies until 1890s First tethered underwater vehicle came much later Dimitri Robikoff s tethered Poodle ROV perhaps the first recognizable tethered underwater vehicle Designed to access inhospitable areas and reduce risk to people 1953 Dimitri Robikoff: Poodle ROV Page 2
A brief history of Marine Robotics Tether-less control made its first appearance in the 19 th Century Nikola Tesla demonstrated a remote controlled boat during an exhibition at Madison Square Gardens in 1898 In typical Tesla style, he convinced the audience they could control it with their thoughts! Page 3
A brief history of Marine Robotics Remotely Operated Vehicles started to appear in the 1960s Some of the first ROVs were battery powered Inspection led to intervention Again, military applications came first Torpedo recovery Observation Commercial applications followed into the 1970s Pipeline inspection Well-head intervention etc. Commercial revolution followed Started the demise of the manned submersible industry Divers walking pipes eventually gave way to ROV inspections 1966 Cable-Controlled Underwater Recovery Vehicle (CURV-I) 1970s TROV Commercial ROV Page 4
A brief history of Marine Robotics First tether-free underwater vehicle developed in 1957 Universities led the way: Special Purpose Underwater Research Vehicle (SPURV) Research gave way to defence applications in the early 1980s First AUV developed by a commercial company 1983 (ARCS) 1957 University of Washington SPURV 1980 Ifremer Epaulard Page 5
The State-of-the-Art AUV: HUGIN Cost Benefits: Faster than traditional survey methods Better data quality than surface ship or other platforms Ability to collect wide variety of data in a single pass Capable of long duration missions enabling concurrent activity Platform Benefits: Only commercially proven deep-water AUV Reliable sensor platform IHO survey grade navigation performance Ability to operate all sensors concurrently Multi-role vehicle with enhanced autonomy Compatible with pipeline tracking, UTP and terrain navigation Repeatable performance with short turn-around time between missions Page 6
Introducing Eelume Page 7
Introducing Eelume Inspection and Intervention when you need it Resident on-site Capable of routine inspection tasks Conduct light intervention tasks Equipped with swappable tools Operated from ship, shore or globally Rapid response to emergency situations No need to wait for an ROV Eelume can access places others can t Flexible body enables it to enter confined areas Small cross-section makes inside pipes accessible Eelume can change shape and hold a posture It can cruise like an AUV or swim bio-mimetically Ability to grasp structures for stability Page 8
Introducing Eelume: Where does it fit in? Traditional technology: Divers WROV IROV Survey Class AUV Eelume: Capable of inspection, light intervention and some survey tasks Enabler for lower-cost, increased regularity of inspection Enabler for emergency response Page 9
Why Use Eelume: Cost Benefit Analysis Standby Time is expensive Mobilisation Transit Wait on Weather Standby Instant response Resident on template Conduct routine inspection Respond to anomalies Can be operated from platform, FPSO or shore Being available instantly is more cost effective Page 10
Why Use Eelume: Current and Future Requirements Today: CapEx and OpEx reductions are driving everything There is a growing demand for IMR services The number of new subsea installations are increasing An ageing subsea infrastructure requiring more inspection Regulators are imposing strict requirements Tomorrow: CapEx and OpEx restrictions will continue Subsea infrastructure will become more complex Immediate access to data will be required, not just in the field but at the office Page 11
Why Use Eelume: What can it do? Faster Response = Lower Cost Designed to remain resident subsea No need for an ROV ship for routine tasks Able to respond immediately Can remain resident on a template Dock has tool carousel for flexibility Eelume can: Conduct inspection tasks Operate valves Conduct CP assessment Clean structures Support ROV operations Page 12
Page 13 Why Use Eelume: What can it do? Subsea Resident Designed to live subsea by being connected to a docking station on the seabed Safer and Greener A resident solution which can be mobilized 24/7 without the need for a surface vessel Modular System Adaptable to a wide range of subsea operations. Modules can be connected in different combinations Intervention The vehicle itself is a dextrous robotic manipulator which can carry a range of tools Long Range The slender torpedo shaped vehicle can transit over long distances like a survey class AUV Access Difficult Areas The flexible and slender body can access and operate in restricted areas of subsea structures
Eelume Developments Eelume AS Based in Trondheim, Norway Partnership with Statoil & KM Strict development timeline Demonstration of capability built into schedule Eelume 1 (December 2016) 150 m water depth Inspection only Control & power via tether Eelume 2 (Q4 2017) 500 m water depth Inspection & light intervention Control & power via tether Page 14
Eelume 3 (2018) Resident on a template Interchangeable tooling Valve manipulation Cleaning CP probe Eelume Autonomy Tether-free operation in 2018 Capable of transit and simple tasks without operator input High-bandwidth bidirectional communications for operator controlled close inspection and intervention Page 15
Page 17 Eelume www.eelume.com Richard Mills Director of Sales Marine Robotics Kongsberg Maritime AS richard.mills@km.kongsberg.com