Robotic Fish Set to Transform Offshore Inspections

Offshore inspections in hard-to-reach locations are set to be made much easier with the release of a new robotic fish. Robofish, as the technology has been dubbed, is currently in the hands of a consortium who are working to upgrade and improve its functionality after a successful prototype was completed in the summer of 2020. Replicating the movement of a fish or an eel, Robofish will have the capability to get close to structures to collect visual data, providing more accurate and extensive information than the models currently on the market.

Robofish is a type of autonomous underwater vehicle - often referred to as an (AUV) - which has superior agility to get much closer to structures and move around at close proximities. The fish-like “swimming” movement of the biomimetic device is made from a number of self-contained modules and draws power from a self-managed battery. An actuator control allows it to navigate underwater and move around structures as required. Robofish has already proven to be viable with a previous prototype that was finished in 2020. The original consortium working on Robofish included PicSea, the University of Strathclyde, the Supergen ORE Hub, the University of York, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and Verlume.

Verlume is helping with the creation of an intelligent power system for the AUV, enabling the device to enjoy the longevity of use while in the water. The goal is for a smart integrated battery-management system plus the mechanism to charge Robofish while underwater. All these components must be able to function while in the harshest of underwater environments. Often referred to as the “blue economy”, Robofish is a leading example of how high-risk tasks while submerged can be carried out with the use of intelligent automation. Outreach activities have now expanded the consortium working on Robofish with the aim of expanding it to be viable for additional applications.

The prototype of Robofish was created with the backing of a research grant due to the challenges traditionally associated with AUVs and ROVs. With an adverse environmental impact plus difficulty around maneuverability and limited accessibility, larger AUVs weren’t able to collect the necessary data from subsea environments. This left the process reliant on human input, which wasn’t ideal for such high-risk activities. Dr Post, an electronic engineering lecturer at the University of York explained how using combination of additive manufacturing methods, networking technology, actuation and innovative electronics has enabled the team to create an AUV which can handle even the toughest underwater environment more effectively. This means that humans don’t have to risk entering these dangerous underwater zones to get the data needed.

Robotic technology is believed to be the future of subsea data collection, especially in the more challenging conditions. With rapid and increasing growth in the offshore wind sector, the need for economical, safe, and accurate inspection methods has increased - which is where Robofish can assist. Future versions of Robofish are expected to incorporate onboard sensors to be able to record the status of a structure. The ongoing development will be focusing on an expanding range of uses for maximum cost-effectiveness and applications. 

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