eelume - aog · • nikola tesla demonstrated a remote controlled boat during an exhibition at...

Eelume:The Next Evolution in Underwater Robotics

Richard MillsDirector of Sales Marine RoboticsKongsberg Maritime AS

1953 Dimitri Robikoff: Poodle ROV

A brief history of Marine Robotics

22.02.2017 WORLD CLASS - through people, technology and dedication

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



Tether-less control made its first appearance in the 19th 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!

1966 Cable-Controlled Underwater Recovery Vehicle (CURV-I)



1970s TROV Commercial ROV

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



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)

1980 Ifremer Epaulard1957 University of Washington SPURV

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

activityPlatform 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

Introducing Eelume


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

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

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

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

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

Why Use Eelume: What can it do?


Subsea ResidentDesigned to live subsea by being connected to a docking station on the

seabed

Safer and GreenerA resident solution

which can be mobilized 24/7 without the need for a surface vessel

Modular SystemAdaptable to a wide range

of subsea operations. Modules can be connected in different combinations

InterventionThe vehicle itself is a

dextrous robotic manipulator which can carry a range of

tools

Long RangeThe slender torpedo shaped vehicle can transit over long distances like a survey class

AUV

Access Difficult AreasThe 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


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 controlledclose inspection and intervention

22.02.2017 Page 17WORLD CLASS - through people, technology and dedication

Eelume

www.eelume.com

Richard MillsDirector of Sales Marine RoboticsKongsberg Maritime [email protected]

http://www.eelume.com/

mailto:[email protected]

eelume - aog · • nikola tesla demonstrated a remote controlled boat during an exhibition at...

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