Page 52: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2020)

Tech Files Get a Grip

Manipulators for f exibility & ef ciency working underwater

While much focus on resident subsea vehicles has been about 125kg fully extended and 455kg at minimum extension.

the vehicles, there’s also been a lot of focus behind the scenes It has an advanced intelligent control system, combined with on creating electric tooling. The industry has relied on hydrau- a perception system, makes it possible to deliver supervised lic tooling since tooling has been used, with the bene? ts and automatic manipulation. This includes end point control, col- drawbacks that come with it. Leading the ? eld has been Schil- lision prediction, detection and prevention.

ling Robotics, now a part of the TechnipFMC group. But, for “Greater manipulator control has come from designing a electric vehicles to really make to most of being all-electric, system with braked, electric rotary joints and an intelligent, they really need to be free of the burdens of hydraulic systems. distributed, control architecture offering position and power

Suppliers are coming up with solutions. feedback,” says Bates. “The result is a manipulator with the capability of existing hydraulic work class manipulators that

Electric manipulation is more precise, more dexterous and more capable of adopting

Saab Seaeye is already well versed with all-electric technol- advanced AI control techniques.

ogy, having the broadest ? eet of fully electric vehicles. It’s Bates says the development is well advanced with testing all now also adding an electric manipulator to its toolbox. the core joints and building blocks. A ? rst prototype arm will

It’s a seven-function electric manipulator that offers ad- be tested in March, with a ? rst deployment mid-year and then vanced control capabilities to “enhance the operator experi- ? rst production deliveries expected end of the year.

ence and increase operational ef? ciency”, says Matt Bates, Whilst the manipulator will be generally available to the

Sales Director at Saab Seaeye. Saab Seaeye’s manipulator has market, a pair will be installed as standard on Saab Seaeye’s a maximum reach of 1.9 metres with a lift capacity between new electric work class vehicle. More on that another time.

Saab Seaeye’s electric manipulator.

The Freedom

ROV with tooling package: Gator clamp, pinless generator, torque tool, multipur- pose cleaning tool, drone, and inter- face.

Credit: Saab Seaeye

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