The specific application is not yet firmly determined. However, the idea for the robotic vessel originated from the wheeled robotic platform that can be controlled via a smart device, which was developed in by Tanel Jalakas, a senior research scientist of TalTech as well as a member of the development team. As similar solutions by others were already essentially finished at the time, and the debut of parcel robots on the streets of Tallinn was only a few months away, it was decided that there would be no point in competing in this area.
Thus came the idea of putting the existing software solution on water. In , members of the TalTech development team brought the concept of a robotic vessel to an event called TehnoHack. It is a two-day hackathon where young inventors come up with ideas, a panel of industry experts evaluates them and selects the best ones to be funded and realised within two days.
As a result of TehnoHack, a small robotic boat was built, able to travel from point A to point B according to predetermined coordinates. As a result, he was successful in attracting the attention of engineering company MEC which designs smaller crafts. The University of Technology has expertise in power electronics, mechatronics and control systems, while MEC has a strong track record in marine mechanical engineering, and the decision to join forces was thus made.
Via the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry, a sheet metal processing company Hyrles became also interested in the project. As the parent company of Hyrles also produces mass-electronics in Finland, they were looking for a way to develop their own innovative product. Probably not all of the features will be needed later, and the vessel that is actually, so to say, launched in the waters of practical application will be technically simpler than the prototype.
This phase will last until March of next year. The goal is to build a complete, fully electric robotic vessel that can autonomously navigate both in harbour and at sea, avoid obstacles, complete a given mission, is aware of its energy consumption and reserves, is able to return on time and can be manually controlled by radio, if necessary.
All the ingenuity that helps to operate the robotic vessel lies in the on-board black box which has been developed by the TalTech development team. Automatic navigating systems have been created in the world before, but most of them are at the disposal of a military of some country and their nature is veiled in secrecy. As said, truth comes from experimentation. Thus, the sea voyage to Keri Island at the beginning of September became the first real so-called sea trial for the robot vessel with a length of 2.
The vessel was exemplary when navigating to the destination and back, using predetermined waypoints. However, after reaching the end point marked on the north side of Keri, the ship made a sudden turn, throwing an axle bushing out of a bearing, and that took out one of the propellers.
It had to be repaired on the island, but it did not result in anything catastrophic. Keelcrab-one is an underwater robot, which can be controlled by a wired remote control with live video feed.
Traditionally, inspection of huge cargo ships for cracks, corrosion or any wear to ensure that they comply with rising safety standards is a time-consuming task for surveyors. Moreover, they have to risk their own safety to climb every nook and cranny of the vessel themselves.
Ship Inspection robots is a robotic technology which can help in this process and also save time and money for owners, improving the accuracy and quality of these important inspections. Its prototype is capable of conducting a visual inspection of ballast tanks and hard to reach parts in huge cargo vessels. Its four magnetic wheels and overlapping wheelbase enable SIR to navigate the I-beams and other awkward obstacles found inside ship ballast.
These robots can be controlled via a wireless transmitter with live video feed and its four infrared distance sensors help in detecting edges and obstacles.
Furthermore, SmartBot is working on a project namely ROBOSHIP which aims to develop an intelligent multi-sensor robot system for inspection and maintenance of the water ballast tanks in ships. It is now developing it further to meet commercial challenges. Anti-Piracy Robots: Recon Scout throwbot developed by Recon Robotics, is an anti-piracy robot which will fight against maritime piracy. The dumbbell-sized robot can be fired from cannon within 5 seconds and can survive throws up to feet.
It can be controlled by joystick from the nearby command center. The robots can keep eye on piracy activities using its cameras that can see even in darkness using infrared camera. The developer aims to quickly bring marsupial robot deployment system which enables the robot to break apart to eject smaller robots. The real time inside information can help the Navy team to assess the situation and act accordingly.
Robotic Vessels: Recently, Rolls-Royce put forth the designs of unmanned remote controlled cargo ships. Related stories from Hakai Magazine :. Daphne , an autonomous solar-powered vessel developed by British Columbia—based Open Ocean Robotics, is part of a wave of new ocean robots designed to police illegal fishing.
Open Ocean Robotics The first time engineers from Open Ocean Robotics pushed Scooby , a three-meter robotic boat, onto a lake near their office in Victoria, British Columbia, the small craft drove straight into the bushes. Open Ocean Robotics But this is an untested frontier. From the Open Ocean Robotics control room, operators can program vessel movements and monitor surveillance data in real time. Vanessa Minke-Martin Lekelia Jenkins, a marine sustainability scientist at Arizona State University, says some developing countries do not have the resources for patrol boats and personnel.
Open Ocean Robotics But long before docks are built to launch oceangoing bots, the participants need to show their technology is up to the task. The future of robot police is nearly here—and governments are rushing to meet it. Vard Electro has continued development of its well-proven SeaQ Integrated Automation System and SeaQ Power Management System together with the class society, to allow for safe remote operations and cyber-secure communication.
Vard Electro brings its considerable systems integrator experience to the table and will deliver a complete electrical systems package, from engineering through installation, integration, and commissioning.
November
0コメント